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Day Tripper | A Gig Harbor walkabout

Posted on March 25th, 2025 By: Mary Williams

Shortly after the holidays, I started thinking about my upcoming Day Tripper stories. Day trips in the middle of winter are always a bit of a challenge. For the past couple of years, I’ve worked really hard to resist the urge to honor my inner recluse (who works hand in hand with my inner couch potato) and just stay at home from the first of the year until April showers are over.

I love to walk in the Harbor and try to do it regularly. There’s no walk I enjoy more than Harborview Drive from one end to the other, probably not all at once, but in manageable chunks. It’s hard not to notice how much there is to look at, but ordinarily I’m trying to get some much-needed exercise, not sightsee. I was struck by what I thought at the time was a brilliant idea: At some point this winter I would just stay in the Harbor, call it a Staycation, and research our home turf as if I were a tourist.

It was mid-January when I started snapping pictures of some of the historical markers that line the streets of downtown Gig Harbor. They’re particularly prevalent on Harborview Drive. Picking a few of them to focus on and researching the history behind them seemed like a great idea.

Early on, I discovered an interesting online resource you may want to check out for yourself, the Historical Marker Database (www.hmdb.org). It includes historical markers from all over the country, but it’s easy to search for the specific area you will be visiting. When I searched Gig Harbor, the database identified 32 markers, most of them along Harborview. Easy-peasy, I thought. I’ll just pick the ones that interest me the most, write my story, and I’m done.

Not so fast, friends. I noted a half-dozen and headed down to the Harbor to check them out. Every time I found one, there were three or four more nearby that weren’t listed in the database. I must have walked the length of Harborview a half-dozen times trying to solve the mystery of why so many seemed to be missing. I think I finally figured it out.

It seems to me that the markers fall into three categories. Some are historical, some are educational, and some I think are best described as commemorative.

For the most part, the historical markers have been erected by the city and the Peninsula Historical Society. They often contain old pictures and relate the history of a specific activity or series of events.

An example of a historical marker. Photo by Mary Williams.

Most of the educational/informational markers are based on the collaboration of Harbor WildWatch and the city, with occasional contributions from additional partners. They often discuss the Puget Sound, local marine life, and our local ecology.

An example of an educational marker. Photo by Mary Williams

Commemorative markers are often sponsored by The Downtown Waterfront Association, sometimes in conjunction with the city. Many of the markers talk about the history of a local home, an early resident, or both.

But why did the HMBDB list only 32 of them? I think the answer is that the database is serious about its historical focus and only includes those that have been erected by the Peninsula Historical Society.

An example of a commemorative marker. Photo by Mary Williams

One thing I noticed was that many of the markers are located in the parks that dot the waterfront. Because the goal of my regular walks has been to keep moving, I hadn’t paid much attention to what a wonderful job the city and its Parks Department have done to create cozy little spots to stop, take a load off, and enjoy the gorgeous views. Each park is home to a combination of makers, so while we’re relaxing, we can also be learning.

But I learned a lot more than that. Each of the parks also contains at least one piece of art or historical artifact. While we know how much we can learn in a visit to the Harbor History Museum, I had never realized that the Harbor itself is something of an outdoor open-air museum on its own.

2.7 miles of history

So now that we know what we’re looking for, I’d like to invite you to take a walk with me. Harborview Drive from the old ferry landing to Crescent Creek Park is 2.7 miles. But before we start out, I have a confession to make. I had always assumed that when Harborview makes the curve at Vernhardson, it continued to be Harborview. Not true, as evidenced by the sign at the entrance to the park.

Crescent Creek Park in Gig Harbor. Photo by Larry Steagall

I considered whether I should just omit any reference to the park but decided it’s just too important to the history of Gig Harbor to do that. So, while our walk will primarily be on Harborview, the first .2 mile is on Vernhardson, and in total, we will cover 2.7 miles. Since we’re talking about Crescent Creek Park, let’s start there.

Crescent Creek Park and City Park are one and the same place. It was the first, and for many years the only, park within the city limits. It is on land that was originally owned by Crescent Valley School, which was built in 1915 and closed in 1941. The park area was deeded to the city, while the school became a Masonic Temple, which is now closed.

To the west of the park is Crescent Creek. Overlooking the creek are several viewing platforms which, of course, have several markers of varying kinds. I had no idea that in 1975 Peninsula High School was the first school in Washington state to start a program to rear salmon for the Puget Sound and nearby creek. (HMDB Marker No. 22 commemorates that success for which the district has won many awards).

One of my favorite art installations in the city is the Crescent Creek Park Totem. Created by wood sculptor Jeff Samudosky, it includes carvings of birds, fish, crabs, mammals, and miscellaneous sea creatures. To learn more about the carving and the amazing story of the sculptor, check out the OMDB, marker No. 27.

The totem at Crescent Creek Park. Photo by Mary Williams

Relatively speaking, it’s quite a distance between Crescent Creek Park and Donkey Creek Park, so our next destination is not a park. Instead, we’re headed to the Finholm District, .7 of a mile away.

The Finholm District

If you’ve lived in the greater Gig Harbor area for any length of time, the names Uddenberg and Finholm are likely familiar to you. Among the earliest settlers of the Gig Harbor area, these families were responsible for establishing one of the first business districts in town, including a grocery store, meat market and post office. The early history of the area as told by Ric Hallock in a story published in the Gig Harbor Life in 2015 is intriguing. Its primary purpose was to provide coverage of the mural that still adorns the side of the building.

A mural in Gig Harbor’s Finholm District. Photo by Mary Williams

It also traces the development and redevelopment of the area.

Are you looking for a way to make your walk a little more aerobic? Why not take a short break from our leisurely stroll and make use of the stair climb.

The Finholm Stair Climb. Photo by Mary Williams

Located adjacent to the building that houses the market and dry cleaners, and at the back of the area’s parking lot, is the stair climb to Franklin Avenue and the path to Prentice Street. Many Harbor Ridge Middle School kids make the (occasionally clandestine) quick trip down and much more rigorous climb back up to the school after deciding to go in search of a quick snack or sweet treat.

Donkey Creek Park

Donkey Creek Park. Photo by Mary Williams

The busy corner of Burnham Drive and Harborview Drive will get us another .4 of a mile closer to our final destination and is halfway between Crescent Creek Park and the end of Harborview.

The corner is home to Donkey Creek Park on one side of the road and the Harbor History Museum on the other. Donkey Creek Park is an amazing place full of history, but I don’t need to tell you about it because Two in Tow & On the Go also visited there and all you need to do is read Tonya’s story.

Our next park is across the street and just past Harbor History Museum. But why risk your life trying to cross the street at one of the most confusing intersections in town? Down in Donkey Creek Park you’ll see a path under the road and into Austin Park at txʷaalqəł Estuary.

The path under North Harborview Drive between Donkey Creek Park and the Harbor History Museum. Photo by Mary Williams

Austin Park

Google says that the meandering path that leads to the Harborview Drive entrance to Austin Park is .3 of a mile. In addition to the natural beauty of the area, a highlight of the park is the Our Fisherman, Our Guardian sculpture. Commissioned in 2016, it was sculpted by Quinault artist Guy Capoeman, who used a 100-year old redwood timber harvested in Shelton. The authentic Salish sculpture honors the area’s first settlers, a band of the Puyallup Tribe.

The Our Fisherman, Our Guardian sculpture. Photo by Mary Williams

Our next stop is once again .4 of a mile further down the road. Here we find a true pocket park. The Harbor and waterfront area lends itself well to pocket parks. While the downtown area seems to be a bustling combination of places to eat and drink, businesses and retail shopping, it is also dotted with areas where it’s possible to gather or just stop for a few minutes to smell the saltwater.

Ancich Waterfront Park

Ancich Waterfront Park, located at 3525 Harborview Drive, provides small cement picnic tables. It also pays tribute to many of the fishing vessels that have over time called Gig Harbor home.

Pavers at Ancich Waterfront Park. Photo by Mary Williams

The park also provides access to the Ancich Dock, including an elevator to water level. Like most everything else these days, there has been some controversy about the dock. But we’re here to enjoy watching boats on the water and birds in the sky, both of which are abundant.

If you must know about that other stuff, check out Ted Kinney’s story in Gig Harbor Now.

But I’m ready to keep walking.

Skansie Brothers Park

Another .4 miles (did you know that’s only about 800 steps?) gets us to Skansie Brothers Park, the home of many Gig Harbor events. The city acquired the 2.59-acre property from the Skansie family in 2002. All four Skansie brothers were fisherman in Gig Harbor around the turn of the 20th century.

A lot happens at this park. Thanks to a gift from the Rotary Clubs of Gig Harbor, the park is home to the Rotary Centennial Pavilion. Events there include the summer farmers market, concerts, holiday celebrations and the Maritime Gig Festival.

The Skansie Netshed.

A highlight of the park is the Skansie Brothers Netshed and House, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Netshed closed last summer for restoration work. It will reopen May 31.

Jerisich Public Dock is a 0.56 acre mini-park at Skansie Brothers Park. Jerisich Dock is named for Samuel Jerisich, an early settler of Gig Harbor. It provides short-term fee-based moorage for visitors. It also has an elevated observation deck with tables and benches.

Jerisich Dock, either at Skansie Park or next to it. Photo by Mary Williams

Located between the dock and the Skansie Brothers Park’s grassy area and walkway is The Fishermen’s Memorial, which is dedicated to Gig Harbor fishermen whose lives were lost at sea. A splash pad/water feature operates during summer months.

The fishermen’s memorial sculpture at Skansie Brothers Park in Gig Harbor. Photo by Mary Williams

We’re almost at the end of our exploration, but there are two last areas to check out. Once again Harborview Drive takes a turn. Just up Soundview from Tides Tavern, Harborview takes a slight left turn and continues on down the road.

Soundview Forest

Soundview Forest is at the intersection of Harborview and Soundview. Finding a forest in the middle of the city caused several friends to pose the question: “When does a park become a forest?” We looked up the definition of a forest and discovered a couple of facts. When looking at land designations, a woods is bigger than a park but smaller than a forest.

Once again quoting the great Google, a forest is generally defined as a large area of land, typically spanning more than .5 hectacres (about 1.24 acres), has a high density of trees, and a tree canopy of more than 10%. The trees usually are taller than 16’.

Given that I’m not going to be doing any measuring, and despite Google Maps calling the area Soundview Forest Park, I think we need to assume the city knows a forest when it sees one and agree that the heavily wooded area on this very busy corner really is a forest.

Soundview Forest in Gig Harbor.

The Park with No Name

Just .2 of a mile to go before we come to the end of the road, where we find the Old Ferry Landing. Two in Tow & On the Go wrote about that, too.

The view from the Old Ferry Landing. Photo by Mary Williams

The area has a picnic table, and several markers. One marker includes one of the few references to our diminutive lighthouse, which is just across the water at 7506 Goodman Drive.

The Gig Harbor Lighthouse, as seen from the Old Ferry Landing. Photo by Mary Williams

Another tells the story of the ferry which used to bring passengers and goods from Tacoma to Gig Harbor. The third tells the story of Galloping Gertie even though the Narrows and its bridges are not visible.

With winter in our rearview mirror, I am eagerly anticipating the warm, sunny days of spring and summer, and plan to do a lot more walking. The city certainly has done its part to provide us with soothing and restful places to sit a bit and maybe even meditate on the beauty we have all around us.

About the Day Tripper column

Gas prices are sky high, and a night in a hotel is approaching astronomically expensive. So, for the foreseeable future, I imagine many of you are going to find yourselves taking day trips rather than the road trip vacations we’ve grown to love.

This beautiful region in which we live is ripe with opportunities to explore new places, see new things, and learn a little something at the same time. I promise to keep the longest journeys to a one-way distance of under 200 miles. Whether you want to make it an overnight trip, a weekend, or just a very long day trip, we should be able to pull it off.

I hope you’ll grant me the honor of your virtual company as we travel these roads together. Happy trails!