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 thrilled to welcome Manitou Life as a firs We’re thrilled to welcome Manitou Life as a first-time sponsor of the Fishtown 5K!

Based in the heart of Leelanau County, Manitou Life is a premium provider of real estate sales, property management, and personalized home services. Whether you're buying, selling, or maintaining a luxury home or vacation property, Manitou Life offers a tailored, single-point-of-contact approach that brings true peace of mind.

Melissa, the driving force behind Manitou Life, grew up in Leelanau County and Traverse City, where her family’s roots span four generations. She developed a deep connection to the region’s landscapes and communities and brings extensive experience in sales and business development across industries including commercial interiors, real estate, architecture, design, and construction.

With her local expertise, professional background, and strong community ties, Melissa provides clients with unmatched insight and confidence throughout every step of the process making the most of your Up North investment.

Thank you, Manitou Life, for supporting Fishtown Preservation and our Joyful Run!
With the lower water levels, things get a little t With the lower water levels, things get a little tight on the river!😬
Art Shanty is pleased to welcome artist Gary Odmar Art Shanty is pleased to welcome artist Gary Odmark back to Fishtown! Gary has been a longtime presence in Fishtown, showcasing his work for years at Reflections Art Gallery—first with the original owner and later with Rick Lahmann, who we fondly remember after his passing in 2021.

Now, Gary returns, actively painting on-site throughout the week. Stop by, watch him work, and enjoy the chance to experience his art in action!
We are pleased to announce that the Grand Traverse We are pleased to announce that the Grand Traverse Distillery is offering a single barrel limited release bourbon this summer, with a portion of the proceeds of each bottle sold to benefit the Fishtown Preservation Society. This release is only available in the Leland tasting room at 101 N. Lake Street and just in time for Father’s Day! 

The bourbon is Barrel #1132, made up of 60% corn, 30% rye and 10% malted barley. In the bottle at 118.3 proof and aged little over 5 years in a first use #4 char American White Oak barrel. The corn and rye all came from Send farms in Leelanau County and the malt from Great Lakes Malting in Traverse City. This bourbon is warm and complex and filled with of the tastes and rich history of this region. There are only 164 bottles of this release, making it perfect for sharing with friends and family for your milestone moments.
CONGRATULATIONS to SHERI BUSH! SHERI is the final CONGRATULATIONS to SHERI BUSH!
SHERI is the final winner of our monthly drawing for the "Taste of Fishtown" gift card bundle by registering early for the 17th Annual Fishtown 5K!
Thank you to @carlsonsfishery , @villagecheeseshanty  and @damcandystore  for making these drawings so delish! AND Thank you to everyone that has registered so far. Keep 'em coming - we want to break our registration record of 834! 🚀
REGISTER TODAY: Link in bio
❤from Fishtown
Join us Saturday, July 19, 2025, on the shore of L Join us Saturday, July 19, 2025, on the shore of Lake Michigan, to run or walk through the streets of Leland with hundreds of others who love Fishtown! Starting and finishing in the heart of Fishtown, gradual climbs and graceful descents make our chip-timed 5K ideal for the serious runner or the whole family. In its 17th year, it’s a race full of Peace, Love, and JOY!  Rain or shine. 

DATES TO WATCH:

May 31
If you register by 11:59PM you will be entered into our last drawing for a chance to win a "Taste of Fishtown" gift card bundle. Each bundle includes a Village Cheese Shanty gift card–good for ten (10) of your favorite sammies, a $25 gift card to Carlson's Fishery, and for dessert—a $10 gift card to The Dam Candy Store.

June 1
Registration goes up from $35 to $40 starting June 1. If you’ve been on the fence, make it official and REGISTER TODAY! Link in Bio

June 19
Is the last day to guarantee your t-shirt size. We always order extra, but getting the numbers and sizes right takes a magic formula, getting the right size matters, this is your heads up!

So, get in on the drawing, beat the price increase, lock in your shirt size and REGISTER TODAY!
Back in the chilly days of March, our beloved weat Back in the chilly days of March, our beloved weathervane Agnes was taken down for a routine check-up. Upon inspection, she was found to be in need of new bearings—and a bit of dental work. Thankfully, her creator Wyman Friske, with the help of Tim and Carson from Kasson Contracting, made quick work of replacing her bearings and removing the troublesome teeth. By the next day, Agnes was back in place, keeping watch over her domain.

Today, the long-awaited new teeth arrived! Wyman, this time assisted by his friend Ingrid, successfully completed the installation. With her new toothy grin, Agnes is once again proudly smiling down on all of us.
Fishtown's Art Shanty season has officially opened Fishtown's Art Shanty season has officially opened! We are so excited to welcome newcomers Kristy and Matt Sickles of Daisy Mae Designs as our first artists in the refreshed space. 
If you love our little area on the map, you don't want to miss what @daisy_mae_designs  has created for their week in Fishtown! Pillows, keychains, whirligigs, little trays, stickers, mugs, ornaments, and more—All with maps or fun features of the area. Wonderful souvenirs of your time here.
If you can't make it to Fishtown this week, you can shop from their Etsy page: https://www.etsy.com/shop/daisymaedesignsshop
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(c) 2013 Fishtown Preservation - Web Design by History By Design and Alyeska.
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