Web project needs our help: take photos of your local Main Street!

(If I'm writing about placecasting, maybe this is placeumentary?)

Main Street is NOT the most popular street name in the U.S. (#1 is actually Second Street...go figure), but is IS right up there on the list. And how many times have we heard politicians and pundits refer to "Main Street America" and "Main Street Values"?

The creators of Mapping Main Street heard that, too, and they wanted to find out just what Main Street America looks like and sounds like.  Turns out there are over 10,000 answers to that questions...and these folks are going to visit each one.  At least, they'll visit them with our help.  MMS is asking for your stories, photos or videos about a Main Street near you.  Not sure if your town has one? There's a search box on the  Mapping Main Street Web site that will find the Main Streets nearest you.


What a great idea! I'm excited to see such a down-to-earth emphasis on flyover country. I hope this project gets attention from users and the media (maybe politicians, too??).

Now I wonder why the project isn't asking for audio submissions as well.  They have a good way of uploading photos and videos.  So why not audio?  We know they respect audio as a medium...the creators are radio producers AND there's a great companion series of radio stories that launched yesterday on NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday.  The story is about Main Street in Chattanooga, TN, which -- at least in parts -- is a popular place to pick up drugs and prostitutes.  The story talks with the people who live and "work" on Main Street and trust me, these aren't the folks politicians are probably talking about.

I may go hunting for stories along the Main Street in Minneapolis, which is tucked away along the riverfront across from downtown...it is NOT a major street.