Fishtown Preservation
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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.

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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.

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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.

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

We're excited to welcome back Becky Sanford of @ra We're excited to welcome back Becky Sanford of @rainbowvalleyfamilyfarms to the Art Shanty!

Becky and her husband Bob own Rainbow Valley Family Farm, a family-run alpaca farm right in Traverse City. Their love for these gentle, curious animals has grown into a farm dedicated to producing high-quality fiber from their happy, healthy herd.

Becky has brought a wonderful collection of alpaca-inspired goodies, including our favorite—beautifully knitted hats and gloves made with fiber from their alpacas. AND each knitted piece has the name of the alpaca whose fiber went into making it!❤

You'll also find soft alpaca yarn (for those fiber artists out there), blankets, and other cozy treasures—perfect for those chilly Northern Michigan days ahead.

Stop by the Art Shanty to meet Becky and see all the cozy things she has brought along.

You can also learn more about Rainbow Valley Family Farm and their upcoming National Alpaca Farm Day on Saturday, September 26, from 10–4 at the farm: https://www.rainbowvalleyfamilyfarms.com/
Moody today in the neighborhood. Moody today in the neighborhood.
Hoping you can make it to Fishtown to enjoy these Hoping you can make it to Fishtown to enjoy these last days of summer.
Late season fishing in Good Harbor. #commercialfi Late season fishing in Good Harbor.

#commercialfishing 
#freshwhitefish
We are delighted to have newbie Christen Landry at We are delighted to have newbie Christen Landry at Art Shanty this week. 

A familiar face around the area and a lifelong lover of the arts, Christen Landry brings her love of nature and color to the Art Shanty through her paintings. Her work is simple and bold, capturing everything from Northern Michigan landscapes and skies to flowers and wildlife with striking color and expressive shapes.

Alongside her paintings, she's brought beautiful plants she's propagated herself. Paired with one of her hand-turned wooden bowls they are a unique combination of living plant and natural wood, bringing a little bit of the outdoors right into your home.

With her background in art and her work as a yoga teacher, Christen brings a wonderful sense of creativity and connection to this place we call home. We think you'll enjoy discovering her work as much as we have!

Stop by the Art Shanty this week and see what she's been creating.
Slip Stitch is back at the Art Shanty for another Slip Stitch is back at the Art Shanty for another week of wonderfully weird, creative fun!

Longtime friends Ana Spencer and Julie Stevens have been having a good time and making things together for years, and when they're in the Art Shanty, the laughter tends to follow. 

Ana is the ceramicist, creating everything from mugs, bowls, and vases to the little creatures that seem to be hiding throughout the shanty. This year, worms are making their way into her work, including mugs with wonderfully wiggly worm handles and free-standing ceramic worms. Keep your eyes open—you never know what other creature you'll find!

Julie can make just about anything with yarn. Her knitted creations range from irresistible little ornaments to delightfully strange characters made from wildly patterned socks. Her designs also make their way onto t-shirts, hats, and stickers, including her ever-popular seagulls.

Stop by the Art Shanty through September 7 to meet Ana and Julie, take a picture in their "Celebration of Friends" mural, and enjoy the good vibes. Just follow the sound of the laughter—you'll find them.
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