Fishtown Preservation
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Home
  • Events
    • 2025 Friends of Fishtown 5K
    • Giving Tuesday 2024 ~ A time for Tug Love
  • Visit | Stay
    • Shanties
    • Fish Tugs
    • Fishtown Shops and Charters
    • Art Shanty 2025
      • 2025 Art Shanty Lineup
      • Art Shanty Opportunity 2025
    • Fishtown’s Vacation Rental—The Otherside
    • Photo Galleries
    • Our Community
    • Directions and Map
  • About
    • Fishtown Board
      • Honoring Kathryn Eckert Omoto, 1935-2022 – by Berkley W. Duck
    • Fishtown Staff
    • Commercial Fishing Today and Q & A
    • Internships
    • FAQs
    • Our Partners
    • Fishtown Newsletters
    • News from Fishtown
    • Media / Press Coverage
  • Support
    • Donate to Fishtown
    • Become an Anchor
    • Our Business Anchors
    • Get Involved
  • Fishtown Forever
  • Contact
Navigation
Search the site...
Slider does not exist.

We Are Fishtown Preservation

What Is Fishtown

Fishtown is a collection of weathered fishing shanties, smokehouses, overhanging docks, fish tugs and charter boats along the Leland River in Leland, Michigan. The heart of a commercial fishing village, Fishtown is where we can still see and feel a connection to the long tradition of Great Lakes maritime culture.

Learn More

What We Do

Fishtown Preservation Society exists to assure public access to Fishtown and to maintain its historical integrity, working waterfront, artifacts and stories through preservation, education and stewardship.

Learn More

You Can Help

Few places are as real as Fishtown. Here we can preserve a living link to a long Great Lakes maritime heritage, as well as to our own families and memories. We want to ensure that Fishtown remains alive for future generations. Your participation will make all the difference for Fishtown.

Learn More

Follow us on Instagram

fishtownmi

Fishtown Preservation a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that preserves and manages the Historic Fishtown site. For more info and to donate visit:

Art Shanty is excited to welcome back Rainbow Vall Art Shanty is excited to welcome back Rainbow Valley Family Farm and Ljae Designs!

Becky Sanford and her husband Bob own Rainbow Valley Family Farm, an alpaca farm right in Traverse City. She brought ultra-cozy, handcrafted items spun from the softest alpaca fiber—think beautifully knit hats, socks, and yarn to DIY, perfect for those chilly days ahead. There’s nothing better than garments made with alpaca fiber from happy healthy animals.

And then there’s Linda of Ljae Designs. An amazing bead worker, knitter and sewist—Creating beautiful jewelry, knitted dolls, fabric rugs and baskets (to mention a few things). Each piece is one of kind and she can create custom pieces!

Come shop these unique, handmade treasures at Art Shanty—support local artisans and grab something truly special!
Not a cloud in the sky Not a cloud in the sky
The final mural is complete — a playful river ot The final mural is complete — a playful river otter swimming among whitefish! 

In Michigan’s commercial fishing industry, each license determines what species a boat is allowed to catch. For the Joy, that species is Whitefish.

Sharing the water with them are river otters, which can sometimes be spotted here in Fishtown. Otters are considered an indicator species — their presence signals a healthy waterway with enough clean habitat and abundant food.

Grateful to @hanemaart for this beautiful tribute to Fishtown's commercial fishing and the wildlife that calls these waters home.
5:30 update Finishing touches this weekend – com 5:30 update
Finishing touches this weekend – come see it in person if you can!
2:30ish update! Can you guess what she’s chosen 2:30ish update! 
Can you guess what she’s chosen to paint?
@hanemaart
We were so excited when Hannah approached us about We were so excited when Hannah approached us about doing a mural. Seeing it in the making is amazing-such a talent!
There’s something magical about art born from th There’s something magical about art born from the water. We are thrilled to have Hannah Anema return to Art Shanty! 

Hannah spends her days as a River Specialist with the Minnesota DNR, and her artwork flows straight from the places she lives, works, and plays. From playful fox  to glimmering fish, her pieces feel like windows into the wild.

This year, she’s added a fresh twist: linocut + stamped vintage wear—bringing nature to life on one-of-a-kind clothing.

Find Hannah (and her sweet pup) in Fishtown | 11–4 daily through Sept 15.
Or explore more: hannahanemaart.com
North side shanty line-up in the September evening North side shanty line-up in the September evening sun.
Follow on Instagram
(c) 2013 Fishtown Preservation - Web Design by History By Design and Alyeska.
  • Log In
  • Sitemap
  • Archives
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • DONATE