At the end of the 19th century, the famous boatbuilder Jonas Gižas (1867–1940) lived in the village of Dreverna, near the Curonian Lagoon. The sounds of woodworking could always be heard in his yard, and the air was filled with the scent of resin. From oak logs that had been floated in, Jonas Gižas built kurėnas at his homestead (now 13 Žvejų St., Dreverna).
The kurėnas served as both a fisherman’s home and his workplace. It can be recognized by its tall sail and flat-bottomed hull, designed for shallow waters and the winds of the lagoon. For a kurėnas built by Jonas Gižas to reach the Curonian Lagoon, a great deal of work was required—and not just in its construction. Some men would tie fishing nets, others would caulk the hulls, and women would wash the sails. Once the kurėnas was finished, a weather vane—a colorful marker indicating the fishing grounds—was hoisted onto the mast. The entire village would gather to watch as the new kurėnas was launched into the water (the Curonian Lagoon) for the first time.
