Gig Harbor, Maritime city in Pierce County, Washington, United States
Gig Harbor is a coastal town in Pierce County, Washington, set along a sheltered bay of Puget Sound. The waterfront displays docks, green spaces, and pathways that follow the edge of the water.
Captain Charles Wilkes assigned the name in 1840 after seeking shelter from a storm in the bay with his small boat. The S'Homamish band of the Puyallup tribe lived at the mouth of the harbor with multiple houses and a large longhouse until the late nineteenth century.
Residents often gather along the waterfront in the early morning to watch fishing boats return with their catch. Local families use the public piers for crabbing and leisure sailing throughout the warmer months.
Visitor centers and local shops along the waterfront street provide information about boat rentals and fishing gear. Parking areas near the water fill up quickly on sunny weekends.
A fleet of fishing vessels departs from the harbor each summer for multi-week trips to Alaskan waters. The crews return with large catches of fresh salmon that they sell directly from the docks.
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