Jonas Gižas Ethnographic Homestead
The renowned shipbuilding engineer Jonas Gižas was born in 1867 in Ventė and settled in Dreverna in 1895. Here, on the shores of the Curonian Lagoon, he became the most celebrated builder of flat-bottomed fishing vessels – kurenkahns and ventekahns – perfectly adapted to the ever-changing waters of the lagoon.
His craftsmanship soon became the legend. It was said that Gižas would arrive with nothing more than a single toolbox and create a boat whose value equalled that of an entire house. News of his skill travelled from village to village, across the wide lagoon and beyond.
Jonas Gižas was also a creator of ship models. In 1927, one of his works received an award at the Agriculture, Crafts and Industry Exhibition in Klaipėda – a recognition of both his technical mastery and his artistic precision.
Today, stories of his life and talent are still told. His distinctive ship models and the elegant weathervanes he crafted have become enduring symbols of Lithuania Minor. Yet behind the fame stood a devoted family man: together with his wife Eva, he raised a large family in Dreverna. When he died in 1940, he was laid to rest in the village’s old cemetery.
Dreverna continues to honour its legendary craftsman. His former homestead now houses a museum exhibition titled Jonas Gižas: Opening the Shipbuilder’s Chest. Here, visitors can step into the world of the past: see original ship models and a traditional weathervane, learn about his life and work, and discover the stories of Dreverna, Svencelė, and the other settlements along the lagoon’s shore. The ethnographic homestead is also home to the local tourism information centre and functions as a branch of the Gargždai Regional Museum.
