The Harbor History Museum will host a special screening of the acclaimed documentary Makers on the Tide, winner of the 2025 Founders Award at the Gig Harbor Film Festival.

Makers on the Tide tells the story of traditional boatbuilders, the Willets brothers, and the maritime craftsmanship that shaped communities along Puget Sound. The film’s themes resonate deeply with the museum’s own collection and Gig Harbor’s legacy as a working waterfront community.

To complement the screening, the museum will highlight an important piece of local maritime heritage: its collection of historic Willets canoes. The museum currently preserves two Willets canoes, handcrafted examples of the lightweight vessels once favored by Northwest boatbuilders and recreational paddlers.

In conjunction with the event, the museum will also auction a third Willets canoe built in 1924. Rather than simply selling the vessel, the museum will invite the winning bidder to participate in a unique preservation effort. The new owner will have the opportunity to collaborate with the museum’s restoration team to return the historic canoe to the water, helping bring a century-old craft back to life.

Additional event details, including auction information, will be announced soon.