We are dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of fly fishing. The American Museum of Fly Fishing was established in 1968 in Manchester, Vermont, by a group of passionate and enthusiastic anglers who believed that the history of angling was an important part of American culture and tradition. The Museum was created to serve as an institution to research, preserve, and interpret the treasures of angling history.

Today, the Museum serves as a repository for and conservator to the world’s largest collection of angling and angling-related items, numbering in the thousands. Our collections and exhibits thoroughly document the evolution of fly fishing as a sport, art form, craft, and industry in the United States and abroad, dating as far back as the sixteenth century. Rods, reels, flies, tackle, art, photographs, manuscripts, and books form the Museum’s permanent collection.

The American Museum of Fly Fishing is the steward of the history, traditions, and practices of the sport of fly fishing and promotes the conservation of its waters. The Museum collects, preserves, exhibits, studies, and interprets the artifacts, art, and literature of the sport and, through a variety of outreach platforms, uses these resources to engage, educate, and benefit all.

The Museum fulfills this mission through our public programs (including exhibitions, gallery programs, lectures, special events, and presentations), our publications, and our quarterly journal, the American Fly Fisher.

 

AMFF is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, educational institution. The Museum’s Form 990 is available to the public upon request (2009 through 2021 are currently available). To obtain a copy, please contact sfoster@amff.org.

Hours & Admission

The Museum gallery and gift shop are open Thursday—Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for kids (ages 5–14), and free for AMFF members and their guests. Closed major holidays.

Visitors & Membership

Visitors to the Museum can view in-house exhibits, participate in gallery programs, and make appointments to use the library or access the collections for research. Members of the Museum help support the Museum and its initiatives through membership dues and active involvement.

Publishing

In 1974, the Museum began to publish its quarterly journal, The American Fly Fisher. This award-winning publication is made available to the public and contains articles about the sport’s past, present, and future. Click here for more

Accreditation

The Museum has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1993 and received its most recent reaccreditation in 2023. The Museum is one of approximately 1,107 museums across the nation with this designation and one of only four in the state of Vermont.

People with Purpose

A staff of dedicated professionals are always available to hear your comments! Please click on the name of the staff member you wish to contact in order to send them an email message.

Board of Trustees

The Museum’s Board of Trustees is a group of passionate anglers who volunteer their time and their resources to ensure the strength and mission of the Museum.

  • Gardner L. Grant Jr. President
  • Salvatore Campofranco Vice President, Treasurer, and Finance Committee Chair
  • Mark Comora Vice President
  • Andrew W. Ward Vice President and Nominating Committee Chair
  • James C. Woods Secretary 
  • Ryan Miosek Clerk
  • Jim Beattie
  • Dave Beveridge
  • Peter Bowden
  • Anthony Davino
  • James Hardman (Emeritus)
  • James Heckman, MD (Emeritus)
  • Margie Kaat
  • Karen Kaplan (Development Committee Chair)
  • David Ledlie (Emeritus)
  • Walter Matia (Emeritus)
  • Robert A. Oden Jr. (Journal Committee Chair)
  • Tom Phillips
  • Frederick S. Polhemus
  • Heather Post
  • Paul Schullery (Emeritus)
  • Jason Scott (Marketing and Membership Committee Chair)
  • Robert G. Scott
  • Tyler S. Thompson (Collections and Exhibits Committee Chair)
  • Richard G. Tisch
  • Gabe Tishman
  • Adam Trisk (Key Initiatives Committee Chair)
  • Patricia Watson
  • Thomas Weber
  • Nancy Zakon
  • Steve Zoric

Advisory Council

The Advisory Council provides consultative expertise for current and future museum initiatives.

The ability to tap in to the living history of fly fishing is an important aspect of the museum’s role as stewards of the sport. Click here to learn more about the advisory council and its members.

  • Robin McGraw
  • Andy Mill
  • Flip Pallot
  • Tom Rosenbauer
  • Frankie Wolfson
  • Joan Wulff

Council Members

The Council program was created to acknowledge the generosity of our donors and contributors who play a leading role in supporting our mission. This is a growing group of Museum friends whose philanthropic commitment deserves recognition and access to unique offerings like private fishing outings, luncheons, complimentary event tickets, and much more. Annual support is critical to the success of the Museum and allows us to continue moving forward with our many exciting projects and initiatives. Building a community and comradery is equally important, and this program has allowed us to do just that.

Director's Council:
  • Michael Haworth
  • Anne Lovett and Steve Woodsum
  • Helene Peddle
  • Chuck and Heather Post
  • Andrew J. F. Tucker
  • Ryan Votaw
  • Charles Walton
  • Douglas Wright
Purchase Director's Council Membership
Museum Council:
  • Dave Beveridge
  • Peter Bowden
  • Karen Kaplan
  • Robert Oden Jr.
  • Ronald and Joan Stuckey
  • Adam Trisk
  • Andrew and Elizabeth Ward
  • Patricia Watson
  • Tom Weber
  • James Woods
  • Steve and Sarah Zoric
Purchase Museum Council Membership
President's Council:
  • Salvatore and Alice Campofranco
  • Mark Comora
  • Anthony Davino
  • M. Briggs Forelli
  • Gardner Grant Jr.
  • Bill Hespe
  • Art and Martha Kaemmer
  • Capt. Robert L. W. McGraw
  • Andy Mill
  • Johnny and Jeannie Morris
  • Jason and Shachar Scott
  • Robert and Karen Scott
  • Nick and Jean Selch
  • Tyler and Francis Thompson
  • Marye and Richard G. Tisch
  • Gabe Tishman
  • Frankie Wolfson
  • Alan and Nancy Zakon
Purchase President's Council Membership

Anglers' Circle

The American Museum of Fly Fishing established the Anglers' Circle (formerly known as the Junior Committee) in October 2012 to raise awareness of the AMFF and its mission to individuals in their 20s, 30s, and 40's through a variety of outreach projects. The AC is a diverse group of young professionals and fly-fishing enthusiasts from around the country, and all are united by a desire to support the Museum through their outreach and fundraising efforts.

Management Committee

  • Parker Corbin
  • Woods King IV, Chair

Advisors

  • Alexandra Lovett-Woodsum
  • Simon Perkins
  • James Prosek
  • Jeff Yates

Fly Fishing and Conservation Alliances

Our Partners and Supporters

Opportunities

Jobs

There are no jobs available at this time.

Volunteer

One of our greatest resources is our group of dedicated volunteers who help us with administrative tasks, special projects, events, and activities. You don’t have to have fly fishing knowledge or experience to volunteer your time and skills!  All that’s needed is an appreciation of history, a desire to learn and willingness to contribute to the community.

  • Fly Tying Demonstrators
  • Presenters and Lecturers
  • Casting Workshops
  • Boat Building Demonstrators
  • Membership and Events Mailings
  • Collections Housing Collections and Library Cataloguers
  • Exhibition Installers
  • Gallery Greeters
  • Much More!
Contact Us

Internships

Projects are available year round and can be developed to meet any schedule or curriculum requirements. These internships are flexible and can be arranged to accommodate the intern’s schedule, school, and time requirements.  This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated student to work and communicate with staff, volunteers, members, and the community.

Projects can focus on:

  • Event Planning
  • Database Management
  • Marketing Campaigns
  • Maintaining library files, donations, and information
  • Researching authors
  • Collections, Research Files, and Archival Management
  • Graphic Design
  • Exhibitions research & installations
Submit A Resume