Stories

White Bread and Beyond: The Complexities of the Midwest’s Bread Culture

“When you look at how sometimes people outside of the Midwest view the Midwest, they see it as kind of a homogeneous, one-dimensional culture...

Rejuvenating an Aging “Asia on Argyle” in Chicago

For most people in Chicago’s Uptown, there’s a go-to neighborhood for grabbing some quality Asian food.  Tucked right off the Red Line, Argyle’s streets are...

The Great Midwest Trivia Contest, Circa 1966

If you’ve ever played a game of trivia, you might be familiar with questions like “Who was the fifteenth president of the United States?”...

Over 240 Years Later, an Ohio Community Remembers Its Founding Massacre

On the cusp of Gnadenhutten, Ohio, a sign greets visitors: “Welcome to Historic Gnadenhutten.” Yet it isn’t immediately clear what makes the village, located...

“Pure Michigan” and Its Indigenous Storytellers

In first grade, my teacher read aloud a series of children’s books about the history behind some of Michigan’s most well-known natural landmarks, including...

Can Ohio Turn the Tables on “Brain Drain”?

“Brain drain.” If you live in the Rust Belt, you’ve probably heard the phrase used to describe the economic woes of your city or...

The Push for Greater Accessibility and Diversity in St. Paul Farmers’ Markets

Three green-roofed sheds compose the market, enclosed by traffic-halted cars and the light rail. Blooming bouquets and swelling music greet visitors. A bicyclist leads...
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The Roche de Boeuf Interurban Bridge: A Historical Site on the Verge of Destruction

Take a trip to northwest Ohio and you’ll find the breathtaking Ohio Electric Interurban Bridge, also known simply as the Interurban Bridge (it has...

Trouble in Paradise? How “Ozark” Shaped Tourism in the Real-life Ozarks

“This place right here has more shoreline than the whole coast of California,” Marty Byrde, the series protagonist of “Ozark”, says in its 2017...

Siloed: Reflecting on Ohio’s Native American History

From mound-building cultures all the way to the final American Indian tribes removed from the area, Northwest Ohio holds a rich and tragic Indigenous history. While Native American histories are overlooked and often intentionally forgotten all across the country, Northwest Ohio is particularly seldom associated with native identity and stories, creating a gap in public memory and local history that emphasizes comfortable narratives over complex and harsh realities.

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