About Gig Harbor, WA
We are a place steeped in history, with the sx̌ʷəbabš, or Swift Water People finding this a safe harbor. Croatian settlers launched our commercial fishing business, which remains to this day. Scandinavian settlers brought buisnesses to our town, and immigrants from across the nation settled here in Gig Harbor.
We remain a place where our connection to the water provides a living for generations of families.
Today, the water is not just a place of work, it is a place of recreation. Our canoe and kayak racing team are national champions. Locals enjoy a more leisurely pace - whether by paddle, by motor, by sail, or by land — and visitors get a warm welcome at our locally-owned inns, hotels and vacation rentals. Walk along the waterfront, dine, shop and even enjoy a local beer or cocktail.
Gig Harbor is a place with captivating beauty, everywhere you look, there are scenes of uncommon splendor, watercraft of all shapes and sizes, historic homes and businesses, open views across the harbor, and those amazing moments when Rainier towers in the distance.
Gig Harbor is a place deeply connected. A stroll through town will bring you past historic net sheds, a stunning museum, and the area’s largest collection of independent businesses and restaurants. People gather here for festivals, concerts, gallery strolls, or family nights out. We are a place where our past inspires our future, knowing we can preserve what is great about this place while continuing to make our town, and all that it means to us, even better.
We are Gig Harbor, Washington. Tied to the Water.
Statement courtesy of the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance. Learn more at: www.gigharborwaterfront.org.
