Next to the fishing vessels themselves, net sheds represent the most important architectural by-product of the commercial fishing industry for Gig Harbor.  Croatian immigrants began to settle in the area around 1900, establishing Millville, one of the harbor’s first towns, along the western shore.  With commercial fishing as the predominant industry, easy access to land for loading and unloading gear was essential.  Modest docks built on wood piles developed along the waterfront with, in many cases, the family home constructed behind these net sheds.  In addition to workplaces, these simple wood piers and covered structures served as gathering places for skippers, crews and their families.