Remarkably, the largest inventory of historic netsheds throughout the Puget Sound is located here.  Today, 17 remain along the waterfront, with four still in use by our Commercial Fishing Fleet of approximately 14 purse seiners.  Like the fishing vessels themselves, netsheds are an iconic reminder of Gig Harbor’s early Croatian immigrants who settled along the waterfront. (more about the netsheds)

The map below identifies the location and names of the original Croatian family netsheds.

5 additional sites (in green) have been added to the 2025 list of current netshed owners:

  • The docks are all that remain of the historic netsheds on #18 and #19.

  • #20 is a historic working netshed located up the hill off Rosedale.

  • #21 is the only historic netshed on the east side of the bay (outside city limits).

Although most netsheds are best viewed from the water:

  • netsheds #2, and #3 are easy to see from the public pier at Eddon Boat Park,

  • #17 (located next to the Old Ferry Landing at the Harborview Drive street-end) has spectacular views at the entrance to the Harbor,

  • #6 and #13 are public parks,

  • #11 is a restaurant,

  • and all other netsheds are privately owned and not open to the general public.  

TAKE A VIDEO TOUR OF GIG HARBOR’S HISTORIC NETSHEDS

Long before today’s shoreline of recreational marinas, condominiums, and luxury homes this 1946 image of Gig Harbor below shows a working waterfront of docks, dolphins (2 or more piling tied together for deep-water moorage) and netsheds built by commercial fishermen.

Gig Harbor's Working Waterfront in 1946  (photo courtesey of MOHAI)

Gig Harbor's Working Waterfront in 1946  (photo courtesey of MOHAI)

Below is Skansie Brothers Park and Netshed in 2012. Thanks to former Mayor Gretchen WIlbert and the Skansie family, we are preserving this remarkable open space of land and water for the community in perpetuity.

image taken from the Modoc courtesy of Lita Dawn

Image taken from the Modoc courtesy of Lita Dawn