Fishtown is a cluster of wooden shanties, docks, and fishing tugs tucked along the Leland River where it meets Lake Michigan.  It tells the story of a life shaped by water and weather. These weathered buildings once served commercial fishermen who braved the Great Lakes to bring in their catch.

Today, the shanties still stand — some as shops, some as galleries, some as reminders. Visitors can follow the boardwalks between the old smokehouses and sheds, with the scent of fresh fish and lake air still mingling on the breeze.

Fishtown is more than a picturesque harbor; it is a rare surviving example of Michigan’s commercial fishing past. Its cultural value was officially recognized when it became part of the Leland Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This place continues to draw people who come not only to shop or sightsee, but to feel connected to memory, to place, and to the enduring spirit of the Great Lakes.