Two women walking on a wooden pier beside the Manistee River, smiling and holding coffee cups, in a fall setting with colorful trees and residential buildings in the background.

A collage of three photos featuring a waterside scene with Manistee North Pier Lighthouse, a family near the water, and a sandy beach with dunes and a lighthouse in the distance.

Let’s connect the past, present, and future together.

Our stories, our history, our Manistee.

We're gathering the voices and experiences that make Manistee Michigan home.

Share Your Story

Sunset over a Lake Michigan beach with orange and purple sky, empty swings and a park bench in the sand.

The story of Manistee, told by its people.

Manistee Stories is a local storytelling project dedicated to preserving our shared history as a living archive.

By capturing the real, lived experiences of our residents, we are connecting Manistee's deep roots with its future.

To do this, a team of local neighbors will gather the stories from those they meet, in their own words. We’re documenting the spirit and character of our community in shared video and audio clips.

> SUPPORT THE PROJECT

The Manistee River flows through a lush, green landscape with trees and hills under a partly cloudy sky.

Two people and two dogs are sitting on the beach of Lake Michigan during sunset, facing the ocean with a calm sea and a partly cloudy sky.

The photo shows a street scene on Manistee River Street in a historic downtown area, with buildings on both sides, streetlights, flowers, and parked cars, under a light sky at sunset.

Pull up a chair. Stories are coming this August.

We want to hear from you.

Whether your family has been here for generations or you just unpacked your suitcase, your stories matters to the history of our town

Sharing your experience is simple: no scripts, no prep, just a casual conversation with a neighbor

Fill out the form below, and you'll be on our list to connect with in early summer 2026.

> TELL US YOUR STORY

Close-up view of a metallic bulldog clip.

Let’s Talk

Interested in telling a story or in being a part of the Manistee Stories project?

Fill out the form below, and we’ll reach out as this project progresses.

A lively photo of downtown River Street in Manistee, MI at sunset with boutique shops and theaters, including the Vogue Theatre with a neon sign, with parked cars along the street and a colorful sky.

First open in 1938, oh the stories the Vogue Theatre walls could tell!

Hear Manistee's story as it unfolds.

Wooden footbridge over a river with a sign indicating the Manistee River Trail, surrounded by trees with autumn foliage.

Wooden bridge crossing over a small stream in a forest with trees and foliage.