Shifting to fresh water, why does America undervalue one of its greatest natural resources? The Great Lakes are in many ways culturally invisible; many Americans underestimate their size and economic importance. On this week’s episode of Silent Generation the boys are joined by their friend David (a recent transplant and Great Lakes enthusiast) to discuss how the Midwest needs to be divided into the Great Lakes and the Great Plains in order to boost the region.  The former should be rebranded as America’s third coast, the “Fresh Coast,” in order to start making the region more attractive to incoming climate refugees from the Sun Belt. They also discuss the “Dirty Coast,” the idea of the logo map, Michigan’s Pure Michigan ad campaign, their predictions for A24’s upcoming Civil War film, and the “Jell-O Belt.”

Links: 

The Great Lakes shipping routes graphic

The Death and Life of The Great Lakes by Dan Eagan

Immewahr’s Logo Map tweet

Pure Michigan’s Steam Locomotive Ad

Great Lakes’ ice cover doing almost the unthinkable

Artwork:

Great Lakes including Canals and Tributary Navigable Streams, 1948

David Rumsey Map Collection, David Rumsey Map Center, Stanford Libraries

Recorded on 2/18/2024