Season Three

New Episodes Thursdays at 7pm on PBS Wisconsin

John McGivern’s Main Streets airs on PBS stations across the Midwest. Check local listings.

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Marquette, Michigan

Marquette, Michigan Marquette, the largest city in Michigan’s U.P., is for everyone! Want incredible views and outdoor adventure? Start at the Light House. White fish? Try Vierling’s. Theater? Lake Superior Theatre’s got you. The largest wooden dome in North America?...

Decorah, Iowa

Decorah, Iowa, draws in many people with its charm. History lovers with Norwegian lineage come to research at Vesterheim. Students come to learn at Luther College. Gardeners come to be inspired at Seed Savers Exchange. What everyone finds are smiles!

Waukesha, Wisconsin

Waukesha, Wisconsin, is known as Guitar Town because it’s where Les Paul was born. But it’s also home to so much more than that.

Madison, Wisconsin

In Madison, Wisconsin, there’s a famous street that connects the State Capitol to the campus of UW-Madison. State Street has been a pedestrian mall since the 1970’s and is lined with very diverse shops, restaurants and art that make it the go-to place to experience the Madison vibe. John and Emmy love it!

Oak Park, Illinois

Oak Park, Illinois, is only a short ride on the “L” from Chicago, but location isn’t the only good thing about this close-knit community.

Red Wing, Minnesota

Red Wing, Minnesota, isn’t named after the famous shoe company. It’s the other way around. See the world’s largest boot and do some shoe shopping, but also be sure to walk down to the Mississippi to watch the boats, spend time in charming downtown, climb Barn Bluff, and celebrate the return of the bison with the Prairie Island Indian Community.

Michigan City, Indiana

Michigan City, Indiana, surprised John by having so many of his favorite things: Incredible sandy beaches and dunes, the Barker Mansion, beautiful local stores, large-scale manufacturing and of course, delicious food!

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Grand Rapids, Michigan was once known as Furniture City. Now thanks to craft brewers, it’s self-coined as Beer City.

Davenport, Iowa

Davenport is the largest of the Quad Cities and the third largest city in Iowa. It’s where chiropractic began, and music is celebrated. Now it’s home to the most incredible Ethiopian food, a great art museum, and is where work vehicle seats are made. Who knew? It’s also a city John wants to visit again soon.

Springfield, Illinois

In Springfield, Illinois, you could spend a week just taking in all of the incredible Abraham Lincoln history. But then you’d miss the “new” Capitol, horseshoe sandwiches, the Route 66 experience, and cozy dogs. John McGivern and Emmy Fink didn’t miss any of it, so come along for their visit.

Dodgeville, Wisconsin

Dodgeville, Wisconsin   Dodgeville, WI, is a close-knit yet welcoming driftless area community built on mining. Dodgeville has some legendary Wisconsin treasures, like Governor Dodge State Park, The House on the Rock and Bob’s Bitchin BBQ. There are legendary...

Goshen, Indiana

Goshen is in Elkhart County, IN. This area makes 85% of recreational vehicles in the US. Dynamax, Janus Motorcycles, Goshen College and Radio Horizonte were surprising. Mexican food is a given here, but Neopolitan pizza at Venturi and Maple City Indian Restaurant? Yum! Add the Old Bag Factory and Quilt Gardens and what you get is joy.

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