Fishtown Preservation
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How Can I Help?We're Preserving the Past, Present and Future of Fishtown. We Are Fishtown Preservation.

Who We Are

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 is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving the historical integrity of Fishtown and ensuring that it continues as a publicly accessible and authentic connection to local and regional history, Great Lakes commercial fishing, and maritime traditions and experiences.

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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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Recent News

  • Giving Tuesday ~ Dec 3, 2019

    Giving Tuesday is a an international day of charitable giving at the beginning of the holiday season, that takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It is a movement created to unleash the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. Please remember Fishtown on this day of giving. #givingtuesday #campaignforfishtown […]

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    Thanks for an incredible 2019 Fishtown 5K!

    Thank you to everyone that supported Fishtown Preservation—as a Fishtown 5K participant, volunteer, sponsor or cheerleader. All that were involved helped make this year’s 5K a record breaker, which is critical to preserving Fishtown. This year our Fish Costume Contest was also a great success, and so much fun. Dozens of racers wore “fish” attire. […]

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    Learning About Fishtown – Through Stories

    By Claire Kurnick Since the age of five I have joined my family for the packed car ride north from suburban Detroit to enjoy the bliss and peace of summers in Leland. After my parents’ divorce, my mother wanted to leave Bloomfield Hills and move north, but it wasn’t until she became an empty nester […]

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  • Love Fishtown Week ~ “I Love Fishtown”

    Love Fishtown Week Fishtown Preservation completed the Fishtown mortgage on February 7, 2019! In celebration, we declared February 7–16, 2019 ~ Love Fishtown Week. The shanty rooftops were relit* with the addition of a big red heart from February 7 through February 16. On Thursday, February 14, 2019, we celebrated this important milestone in Fishtown. We […]

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    Fishtown’s Mortgage Pay-Off Celebration

      Fishtown Preservation completed the Fishtown mortgage on February 7, 2019! In celebration, we declared February 7–16, 2019 ~ Love Fishtown Week! The shanty rooftops were relit* with the addition of a big red heart from February 7 through February 16. On Thursday, February 14, 2019, we celebrated this important milestone in Fishtown. We offered tributes, […]

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    Leland’s New Harbor

    Leland’s New Harbor The waves lately have been crashing over the harbor wall. Imagine how the open waters of Lake Michigan battered Fishtown and its commercial fishermen for more than one-hundred years before the Harbor of Refuge was built in the late 1960s. The Carlson Family had just acquired the white shanty and moved and […]

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  • Patty aboard the Helen S

    Having Fun in Fishtown The young girl pictured aboard the Helen S (built in Fishtown in 1927) is Patty (Dunshee) Shea. Patty brought the photo to our office in 2007. The Helen S was built in Fishtown in 1927 by John Johnson for commercial fisherman Hank Steffens, Sr. The fishing tug was named after Hank […]

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    Fishtown in Lights

    This holiday season Fishtown Preservation has lit the rooftops of Leland’s Historic Fishtown with strings of white lights to celebrate our donors, volunteers, and everyone who has made the last twelve years of saving Fishtown possible. The light display continues nightly through January 6, 2019 ~ 5:00pm-10:00pm. FPS turned on the lights on December 14 […]

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    2018 Fishtown 5K Photos

      Thanks to everyone that came out to support Fishtown Preservation—as a racer, volunteer, sponsor or cheerleader. All that are involved make this event a huge success in helping to preserve Fishtown. In celebration of our 10th Annual Fishtown 5K, we declared 2018 the “Year of the Tug.” We had two tug costume workshops before […]

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How to Reach Us

Fishtown Preservation
Office location and hours
203 E. Cedar Street
P.O. Box 721
Leland, MI 49654M-F 9:00-4:00 (year-round)
(231) 256-8878
(231) 256-2517 (fax)
[email protected]
Facebook.com/FishtownMI

You Make the Difference

With your help, we're preserving the past and the present of Fishtown. Please contribute today.

Our Business Anchors

  • Shady Lane Market

    Shady Lane Market is a one-of-a-kind, convenience store/gas station located between Suttons Bay and Traverse City on M-22....

  • Venture Properties

    Venture Properties offers you one of the best search sites in northern Michigan. Search for homes, condos, and vacant land. ...

  • Art’s Tavern

    If you know Glen Arbor, then you know Art's......

  • Leland gal

    Leland gal is art driven textiles, made in the USA, inspired by my hometown of Leland, Michigan....

  • The Bead Hut

    The Bead Hut shanty is located on the docks in Historic Fishtown, Leland....

  • Dam Candy Store

    The Dam Candy Store is located in Fishtown — featuring a variety of favorite candies, and ice cream. ...

  • Ken Scott Photography

    Ken Scott Phototgraphy features photos of Lower NW Michigan, Leelanau, Sleeping Bear Dune National Lakeshore and beyond....

  • Long’s Furniture World and Mattress

    Long’s Furniture World in Franklin, Indiana, offers a wide selection of both traditional and modern furniture and high quality mattresses....

  • Haystacks

    Haystacks Brand Clothing and Accessories are designed, cut, and sewn at our Design Studio in Suttons Bay, Michigan...

  • Northern Latitudes Distillery

    Leelanau's first full service small batch distillery!...

  • Reelin’ Leland

    Fishing charters aboard the Leelanautical....

  • Bonek Agency

    Independent insurance agency operating and licensed to do business in Michigan....

  • Thomas & Milliken Millworks

    Thomas & Milliken Millwork has been producing quality custom moulding, doors and stair parts since 1977....

  • The Cove

    The Cove serves lunch and dinner daily. Call 231-256-9834 for dinner reservations....

  • Green Goodness

    An array of Earth friendly products for women, baby, body and home....

  • Leland Mercantile Co.

    Leland Mercantile is a full-line grocery store....

  • Tug Stuff

    Tug Stuff: The World of Tug....

  • Leland Chamber of Commerce

    The Leland Chamber of Commerce promotes economic growth and stability in the extended Leland community. ...

  • At The Lake

    Our goal is to provide you with a unique collection of fun products....

  • Van’s Garage

    Shining as a gem from a bygone age, Van's Garage stands apart as a true original....

  • Tampico

    Sterling Silver jewelry is our specialty, featuring our Petoskey Stone, Leland Blue and Beach Glass & much more....

  • Becky Thatcher Designs

    Becky Thatcher has been crafting exquisite, handmade jewelry for over three decades....

  • Two Fish Leland

    Discover authentic art, uplifting gifts and an uncommon experience at Two Fish Gallery, Two Fish II and Two Fish Stay....

  • Pete Miller, Attorney

    For twenty-five years Pete Miller has been representing businesses and individuals in real estate and business transactions....

  • Diversions

    As our name implies we are more than just a hat store. ...

  • Tamarack Gallery

    Providing a showcase for fine art, outsider and folk art, and crafts, located in historic Omena....

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