University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee History Department Launches New Podcast on the City’s Aquatic Past

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s department of history is pleased to announce that the second season of its podcast, produced in partnership with the Milwaukee County Historical Society, is now live. Last year, the show, which was titled The Healthiest City, looked at the 1918 influenza outbreak in Milwaukee and asked what this history could teach us about navigating the COVID-19 pandemic today. This season focuses on Milwaukee’s relationships with the streams, lakes, and rivers that surround it and is called Water Works: An Aquatic History of Milwaukee.

Prof. Chris Cantwell, who developed the show in partnership with graduate students from his “History and New Media” class, says the project is a chance to bring history to the masses. “Podcasting is a booming medium in almost every corner of society, including among historians and museum professionals,” Cantwell said. “Both the class and the podcast give our students a chance to be makers of history rather than just listeners.”

The inspiration for the show comes from a new exhibit at the Milwaukee County Historical Society called Milwaukee: Where the Waters Meet, which also explores Milwaukee’s historic relationship with the water around it. Curator Ben Barbera says the partnership with UWM is a great way to expand the exhibit’s impact. “We are always looking for ways to expand our reach and tap into new audiences, and this podcast does exactly that. In addition, it allows us to work with the next generation of public historians to build on our core mission of preserving and sharing Milwaukee’s history.”

Water Works will run for eight episodes from now until the end of March and will cover topics like Native American conservation practices, a history of Milwaukee shipwrecks, the growth of Milwaukee’s water infrastructure, and contemporary efforts to battle pollution. Milwaukee: Where the Waters Meet will be on display at MCHS through April 2022.

Water Works is available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information, check out https://milwaukeehistory.net/podcast/.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.