Encinitas Boathouses
{{short description|Boat-shaped houses in California}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{for|the schooner that sank in Lake Superior|Moonlight (ship)}}
{{infobox building
| name = S.S. Encinitas and S.S. Moonlight
| status = Built
| image = Encinitas boat houses.jpg
| address = 726-32 3rd St, Encinitas, CA 92024
| years_built = 1929
| completion_date = 1929
| opened_date =
| architect = Miles Minor Kellogg
| owner = Encinitas Preservation Association
| cost =
| height = {{cvt|15|ft|m}}
| embedded =
{{infobox NRHP
| embed = yes
| nrhp_type = nrhp
| locmapin = California
| coordinates = {{coords|33.04294|-117.29541|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| nearest_city = Encinitas, California
| area = {{cvt|1100|sqft|sqm}}
| added = October 21, 2019
| refnum = 100004530
}}
}}
S.S. Encinitas and S.S. Moonlight, designated by the National Register of Historic Places as the Encinitas Boathouses, are two houses made to look like a boat in Encinitas, California. Despite their appearance, they have never been to sea and are purely novelty architecture. The dwellings were added to the register on October 21, 2019. North Coast Current claims that they are the most photographed buildings in the city.{{Cite web |last=Shapero |first=Julia |title=National historic status on horizon for Encinitas Boat Houses |url=https://www.northcoastcurrent.com/coastline/2019/08/national-historic-status-on-horizon-for-encinitas-boat-houses/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=North Coast Current |archive-date=July 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711185644/https://www.northcoastcurrent.com/coastline/2019/08/national-historic-status-on-horizon-for-encinitas-boat-houses/ |url-status=live }}
History
The boats were constructed by Miles Minor Kellogg in 1929, salvaging wood from the closed-down Moonlight Beach Dance Parlor and Encinitas Hotel. The dance parlor had closed due to the Prohibition. Kellogg was a maritime engineer from Benton Harbor, Michigan{{Cite web |last=MacAskill |first=Jaye |title=Encinitas Boathouses Added to National Register - SOHO eNews |url=http://www.sohosandiego.org/enews/0919boathouses.htm |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Save Our Heritage Organisation |language=en-US |archive-date=July 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711185644/http://www.sohosandiego.org/enews/0919boathouses.htm |url-status=live }} whose father was a sea captain. Inspired by the city's ocean setting, and without any plans, he also built the four-unit apartment complex behind the boats.{{Cite web |title=Encinitas Boat Houses California Attractions |url=http://www.seecalifornia.com/attractions/encinitas-boat-houses.html |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=See California}}
The houses are currently owned by the Encinitas Preservation Association, which purchased it in 2008. It plans to convert it into a museum once it pays off its loan, as the boathouses are currently being rented as private residences.{{Cite web |date=2016-08-13 |title=The Boathouses |url=https://encinitashistoricalsociety.org/the-boathouses/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Encinitas Historical Society |language=en |archive-date=October 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013093116/https://encinitashistoricalsociety.org/the-boathouses/ |url-status=live }} The association had to pay $1.55 million ({{inflation|US|1550000|2008|fmt=eq}}) to purchase the buildings and the apartments behind it.
Architecture and interior
Both houses are {{cvt|15|ft|m}} tall and {{cvt|20|ft|m}} long, with an area of about {{cvt|1100|sqft|sqm}}. Each also has 19 portholes, a galley, a steering wheel, a chart desk, and rudders. The bow also can be used as a patio.{{Cite web |last=Aere |first=Jacob |date=2019-08-01 |title=Encinitas Boat Houses to be voted for National Historic Places |url=https://thecoastnews.com/encinitas-boat-houses-to-be-voted-for-national-historic-places/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=The Coast News |archive-date=July 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711185644/https://thecoastnews.com/encinitas-boat-houses-to-be-voted-for-national-historic-places/ |url-status=live }} Each boat has two floors.{{Cite web |last=Summers |first=Alicia |date=2019-07-25 |title=Encinitas boathouses could be declared historic landmarks |url=https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/encinitas-boathouses-could-be-declared-historic-landmarks/509-bf6cf427-6a32-49b2-b252-cd1530c3aef6 |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=cbs8 |language=en-US |archive-date=July 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711185644/https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/encinitas-boathouses-could-be-declared-historic-landmarks/509-bf6cf427-6a32-49b2-b252-cd1530c3aef6 |url-status=live }}