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:

Your favorite linocut artist is back—Big Mitten Your favorite linocut artist is back—Big Mitten Linocuts returns to the Art Shanty!

Betsy, the artist behind Big Mitten Linocuts, handcrafts every piece from start to finish. She sketches her designs directly onto linoleum blocks, carves each image in relief using woodcarving tools, then rolls on ink and prints onto paper or fabric—entirely by hand.

As a naturalist deeply inspired by the woods, waters, and wildlife of the Midwest, Betsy creates limited, numbered editions of her prints. You might even catch her carving live on site! Some of the blocks she was working on last year are now fully produced and available for sale.

Betsy is only in Fishtown through August 4th - or online at https://www.bigmittenlinocuts.com/
Whitefish have remained a staple in the Great Lake Whitefish have remained a staple in the Great Lakes for millennia, surviving threats that decimated other species. Now, they are on the brink themselves: Catches have plummeted, newborns are dying and adults are approaching old age. Some fear the fish could disappear entirely from their once-prime habitat in the lower Great Lakes. 

Pull up a chair, grab your lunch and join Bridge Michigan for a free Zoom interactive discussion focused on Michigan’s disappearing whitefish population, its history and its future in the Great Lakes. 

Fishtown Preservations own Amanda Holmes is a featured panelist!

Register for Bridges free Lunch Break: Registration link in bio
The girls would love to see you in Fishtown! #tug The girls would love to see you in Fishtown! 
#tuglove
#joy&janicesue
We’re thrilled to welcome back a fan favorite— We’re thrilled to welcome back a fan favorite—Nancy Melet and her daughter Gillian—to Art Shanty!

Nancy’s stunning, hand-linked jewelry features mixed metals and globally sourced beads, with every piece crafted to be uniquely yours. Designed for everyday wear, her one-of-a-kind creations are as timeless as they are beautiful.

Come explore the collections and find your new favorite piece—it's the perfect time to start (or grow!) your Nancy Melet collection.
A huge THANK YOU to everyone that came out and sup A huge THANK YOU to everyone that came out and supported Fishtown at the 17th Annual Fishtown 5K! What a fantastic turnout of amazing humans: runners, walkers, volunteers, sponsors, cheerleaders, first responders, the awesome timers @newtontiming and also all the pups!
Beautiful morning for race day! #fishtown5K #peac Beautiful morning for race day! 
#fishtown5K #peaceloveJOY
In case you were wondering how all those Fishtown In case you were wondering how all those Fishtown 5K packets come together before the race. Amazing volunteers!
There's still time to register and we have some t-shirts left!
Registration link in bio OR— https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Leland/Fishtown5K
Fishtown is excited to welcome newcomer Colleen Gl Fishtown is excited to welcome newcomer Colleen Gleason @colleenartstudio to Art Shanty!

Colleen's beautiful work explores the space between abstraction and recognition, using a vibrant, highly saturated color palette that draws you in. Many of her paintings feature iconic Leelanau County locations—often with figures immersed in water, capturing the joy and movement of summer life along the shore.

Stop by the Art Shanty to experience her stunning pieces in person! or visit her online at https://www.colleenstudio.com/
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