0209, 2011

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee has been a Great Lakes port since 1835, and its port has been important through the city’s long history as an industrial powerhouse. Over the past decade, Milwaukee has created a more postindustrial economy, but the Port of Milwaukee is still an important transport center for the city and the entire western Great Lakes region, including Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul. The waters around the port are important to recreation and the city’s developing tourism industry. The Milwaukee Boat Line’s Iroquois, seen in this video, is the oldest passenger vessel still operating on the Great Lakes, and offers a variety of entertainment excursions. Walter Beasley is a contemporary jazz saxophonist and a full professor at Boston’s

2708, 2011

Algorail at Port of Milwaukee

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The self-unloading freighter Algorail has served the Algoma Central Corporation on the Great Lakes since its construction in 1968, and is managed by its partner, Seaway Marine Transport. This is the second vessel to bear the Algorail name. The first, known as William S. Mack before Algoma purchased it, was scrapped in 1963. In this video, the current Algorail departs the Port of Milwaukee, past the Milwaukee Breakwater Light in Lake Michigan. Peter White is an English smooth jazz guitarist who played with several artists, including a 20-year span as accompanist and writer for Al Stewart, before launching a solo career in 1990. With several Top 10 jazz albums under his belt, White is a frequent

2408, 2011

Old Mackinac Point Light

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During the 19th century, booming settlements around the Great Lakes effected a great increase in Great Lakes shipping. Increased ship traffic created the need for a lighthouse to guide ships through the Straits of Mackinac, connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. By 1890, a fog signal building had been constructed on the site of the former Fort Michilimackinac, a British fort that had been dismantled and moved to nearby Mackinac Island in 1781. The Old Mackinac Point Light Station was first lit in 1892. It served ships under four different lighthouse keepers and, like many lighthouses, had minor upgrades over the years to implement new technologies such as electric motors and radio signals. The lighthouse ended

1408, 2011

James R. Barker

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The Great Lakes freighter James R. Barker was built in 1976 for the Interlake Steampship Company. One of the first thousand-footers on the Lakes (the first being the Stewart J. Cort), the James R. Barker is named for the President and Chairman of the Board of Interlake Steamship Company. Another ship, the Kaye E. Barker, is named for his wife and is featured in the full version of this episode. The St. Marys River channel connects Lake Superior with Lake Huron and is the site of the Soo Locks in the twin cities of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and Ontario. The locks carry ships past the natural rapids of the St. Marys and were constructed in

1008, 2011

Cleveland, Ohio

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Cleveland, Ohio has made great strides in reinventing itself. Historically an industrial city known for its steel industry, Cleveland now boasts a vibrant cultural scene, service industries, and tourist attractions. Cleveland’s North Coast Harbor on Lake Erie unites the new and old city with the Steamship William G. Mather Maritime Museum. This “ship that built Cleveland” was the flagship for the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company for sixty years. Today, the ship is a floating museum, open for tours, and a venue for various cultural events. Other sights in North Coast Harbor featured in this eScapes video are the famous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Science Center, Cleveland Browns Stadium, and the Goodtime III, an

2907, 2011

Chicago at Night

The skyline of Chicago is one of the most distinctive in the world and it’s especially beautiful when seen from the city’s Northerly Island peninsula. This vantage point provides an unbroken panorama of the cityscape. As always, the John Hancock Center and Willis Tower (best known by its former name, the Sears Tower) are standout landmarks. The round Shedd Aquarium can be also be seen in the foreground. The most-visited cultural attraction in Chicago, the Aquarium needed 160 rail car trips to carry a million gallons of salt water from Key West for its opening in 1930. Another brilliant vista of the city featured in this video is the cityscape from Navy Pier. The carnival-like atmosphere

2807, 2011

Split Rock Lighthouse

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Built in 1910, Split Rock Lighthouse is one of the most distinctive features on the Minnesota coast. Sitting atop a 602-foot cliff, the light can be seen for 22 miles and aided Lake Superior ships until it was decommissioned in 1969. Today, the light is only lit for special occasions, although its lens still spins. Split Rock Lighthouse sits on the northern shore of Lake Superior in what is now Split Rock Lighthouse State Park in Two Harbors, Minnesota. Ken Navarro is an award-winning contemporary jazz guitarist. His impressive discography of nineteen top charting albums showcases his appeal to a wide range of listeners with inspiring compositions and superb guitar performances. Links Split Rock Lighthouse Split

1707, 2011

Tahquamenon Falls

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Tahquamenon Falls is one of the most famous landmarks in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The upper falls shown in this video move an average of 7,000 gallons of water a second, and up to 50,000 at peak springtime flow. Against the white backdrop of ice and snow in this winter scene, the brown color of the Tahquamenon River is especially apparent. This color comes from tannin, an organic compound released by the decomposition of material from cedar swamps upriver. This color has given the falls a local nickname– “Root Beer Falls”– also given to a smaller, unnamed waterfall to the west with similar water. Andrew Ironside is a Christian minister and musician. He is the founder of

1507, 2011

Stewart J. Cort

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Built in 1973, the Stewart J. Cort has the distinction of being the first 1000-foot freighter on the Great Lakes. It was named after the late vice president of Bethlehem Steel, the company it has served continuously while operating under the Interlake Steamship Company. In this video, the Stewart J. Cort can be seen passing one of the two breakwater lights that mark the entrance to Duluth-Superior Harbor on the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin at the edge of Lake Superior. Mark Love is an independent Australian artist. His work ranges from intense electronic compositions to solo piano ambience. Links Interlake Steamship Company: Stewart J. Cort Terry Pepper’s Seeing the Light: Wisconsin Point Lighthouse Mark Love

1107, 2011

Crisp Point Lighthouse

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Crisp Point Light Station, in Paradise, Michigan, was first lit in 1904 and served Lake Superior ships until it was decommissioned in 1993. The light tower perfectly complements a pristine beach and dark blue water, but the strong waves of the lake, though beautiful, can be destructive. In 1996, the lighthouse lost its entrance building to coastal erosion from the lake, and the site has been the focus of many efforts to preserve or restore the coastline. Geoff Bowman is a solo pianist. “Manhattan” is a track off his debut album, Reflections. Links Crisp Point Light Historical Society Paradise, Michigan Area Tourism Council Paradise Chamber of Commerce