Jonas Gižas (1867–1940) was a renowned shipbuilder from Dreverna who built flat-bottomed boats for the Curonian Lagoon—known as kurėnai and venterines—designed for fishing in the Curonian Lagoon. Thanks to his superb craftsmanship and his skill in selecting and preparing wood, J. Gižas was famous throughout the Curonian Spit region. Taking his toolbox with him, he would travel to a client’s location and build a boat whose value at the time was equivalent to the price of a house.
J. Gižas also crafted ship models; in 1927, one of them was recognized at the Agriculture, Crafts, and Industry Exhibition held in Klaipėda. You can see the master with the model he built in the photo of the exhibition booth.
Legends abound about J. Gižas’s craftsmanship and way of life in Dreverna and beyond. The ship models and weather vanes created by J. Gižas have today become symbols of Lithuania Minor. He was not only a skilled craftsman but also a hardworking family man—together with his wife Eva, he raised eight children.
Today, the Jonas Gižas Ethnographic Homestead (13 Žvejų St., Dreverna) showcases the traditions of coastal shipbuilding. The homestead houses a museum exhibition that invites visitors to learn about Jonas Gižas’s craft and life and to participate in educational activities.
The tourist information center located here invites you to explore the Dreverna region, the nature of the Curonian Spit, and places of interest, enjoy a variety of experiences—learn about the traditions of the Lithuanian community, sample local cuisine, and even witness the beauty of the Curonian Lagoon while sailing on the historic ship “Dreverna.”
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