The Third Place Project

 

Third Places are gathering places between home and work; the term was coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his book The Great Good Place.  Typically something functional is done in a third place--eating, shopping, getting a haircut--but something else is done here, too--people hang out, they talk, they build community, they have fun.

In the summer of 2008, I spent time in four of Greater Mankato's third places.  Through audio and photos, I attempt to capture what makes these places so special and so important to our community.

• Dan's Barber Shop
• Mocol's Supermarket
• Mutch Northside Hardware
• The Wagon Wheel Cafe

**In the summer of 2009, I began exploring local third places that have come and gone.  These include...

 

• Grandma's Store (Lower North Mankato)
• The Century Club (Lower North Mankato)

 

**Click here to see notes from Ray Oldenburg's book, The Great Good Place

**This project was funded in part through a Presidential Teaching Scholar Fellowship from Minnesota State University, Mankato in the summer of 2008.