2019 Gig Harbor (Wash.) Official Visitors Guide

its original historic purpose. Future
plans call for incorporating use of
the bay — allowing human-powered,
nonmotorized watercrafts via a
paddlers dock — while still focusing
on the history of Gig Harbor with the
importance of commercial fishing.
This gem of a park was forged by years
of effort from the community, the city
and state and federal agencies, and is
now available for the enjoyment of the
public!
Joshua Bessex/ Peninsula Gateway
The city’s newest
park is 2.5 acres
with trails and
dog-friendly
amenities.
Welcome Plaza
at Jerisich Dock
The Welcome Plaza on Harborview
Drive features rooftop deck seating
and views of the harbor. A word of
caution: no dogs are allowed on the
deck.
Underneath the deck in the
breezeway is a digital-touch screen
menu featuring a directory of
restaurants, retailers and serviceoriented
businesses; a city map;
the weather; and a comprehensive
list of citywide events. In that same
breezeway are public restrooms and
restroom/shower facilities for paidmoorage
guests.
The Welcome Plaza features a
sculpture of a Gig Harbor fisherman
working his nets in honor of the
fishermen who went to sea at great
risk and were forever lost.
Visitors can enjoy a picnic lunch at
the picnic benches near the street or
on the dock. Life jackets are available
to borrow. Visitors can walk the pier,
reveling in the beauty of the harbor.
Finholm View Climb
The 100-step Finholm View Climb
was installed in July 1999 by the
Gig Harbor Lions Club, saluting
the memory of Edward and John
Finholm, who operated the Finholm
Market nearby.
Located across from Anthony’s
Restaurant and other shops and
restaurants, the view climb features
multiple landings, offering different
vantage points for viewing the harbor,
the marina and Mount Rainier on a
clear day, and nearly a dozen benches
for resting. The view climb is well
lit, providing access from dawn to
dusk. Restroom facilities and visitor
information are available at the North
Harborview Drive entrance.
With a good book and a good camera
(to take breathtaking photography),
the view climb is a relaxing getaway.
Soundview Forest
The city’s newest park, an exquisite
triangular forest, provides a
woodland haven in the downtown
waterfront area. This 2.5-acre park
has over 300 trees, many more
than 100 years old. Located on the
HISTORY HAPPENS HERE
• The Museum offers 7,000 square feet of
galleries showcasing the rich heritage of
the Gig Harbor peninsula. Unique artifacts,
video kiosks, hands on exhibits, and a
restored 1901 schoolhouse bring Peninsula
history to life.
• Thanks to support from the City of
Gig Harbor, Museum admission is
complimentary for all visitors through 2019.
• Visit the Maritime Gallery featuring the
Shenandoah: This 65-foot fishing vessel is
a Gig Harbor-based purse seiner built by
Skansie Shipbuilding Company in 1925.
WINTER HOURS (November - March)
Wednesday - Friday: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 4:00pm
SUMMER HOURS (April - October)
Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm - 5:00pm
corner of Soundview and Harborview
Drive “just prior to the old ferry
landing,” the park boasts trails, a
picnic table, bench and dog-friendly
amenities. Lauded by the community
as an important preservation for
its woodland forest where herons
gather above, this new park is a gem
near the mouth of the harbor. City
parking is available next to the park.
Future developments include a new
gazebo donated by local residents
and nonprofit groups, more native
planting, benches and trails.
4121 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
253-858-6722
harborhistorymuseum.org
Book Your Private Event at the Museum!
2019-20 GIG HARBOR VISITORS GUIDE | GIGHARBORGUIDE.COM 47