Winona’s Unique Community of Floating Houses

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Just across the main channel of the Mississippi River from downtown Winona, Minnesota, you’ll find a unique community of folks who live intimately with the river. Dozens of boathouses line the eastern shore of Latsch Island, and many of them are home to people who live there year-round. In this episode of the Mississippi Traveler Podcast, I talk with Gina Favano about her recent podcast, Back Channel Radio, that took a deep dive into the world of Winona’s boathouse community. We talk about how the boathouses trace their roots to the shantyboats of an earlier era, the battles to protect the legal rights of boathouse residents, and some of the big personalities who called the boathouse community home. We also talk about what it takes to live full-time in a boathouse, the hard work required most days, and the joys of living so intimately with the Mississippi. In the Mississippi Minute, I recommend a book about the boathouses of the Upper Mississippi that takes a broader look at these unique structures and the people who enjoy them.