Milwaukee PBS | Documentaries and Specials | People of the Port

Few places in any American city have packed so many layers of change into such a small area. Jones Island is practically an open book that tells, on the miniature scale, the story of our entire region, but it is also a richly human story. From the cultural struggles of the early Indians to the catastrophic flooding of Capt. Jones shipyard, from the storybook lives of the Kaszubian fisherfolk to their ultimate eviction, the Island incorporates more drama, tragedy, conflict, and romance than you'd find in landscapes a hundred times larger. For all its historical depth and emotional power, the story of Jones Island is largely unknown in the Milwaukee region. PEOPLE OF THE PORT will close that gap. Anchored by the same duo who created the celebrated "Making of Milwaukee" series, the production team will create a half-hour documentary that elevates Jones Island to its proper place in the local narrative. Each stage in the Island's unique history will be treated as a distinct chapter, separated by wordless visual interludes that feature the contemporary landscape with music appropriate to the scene.