History of Ephemerisle

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Ephemerisle was founded in 2009 by the Seasteading Institute in order to promote their vision of autonomous socities in the ocean. After the first year, the Seasteading Institute stepped aside due to prohibitively expensive insurance costs. A group of seasteaders and friends who had rented houseboats for the event decided to show up anyways for an informal "Not-ephemerisle" gathering.

From 2010 through 2012 , there was an informal leader over the event who drew up the city plan and nominally had some decision making power. At some point, the Seasteading institute gave up any claims to the name "Ephemerisle" and "Not-Ephemerisle" took over the name. In 2012, the community came together and unanimously made a decision to break up the gathering from a single leadership team into a set of independent autonomous islands. That has been the nature of the event ever since.

Houseboats were a key element of Ephemerisle early history. In 2015, every houseboat available for rent in the Delta was rented within hours of the date being announced. In 2018, Paradise Point who provided the rented houseboats closed that part of their business, and that was the first year without any rented houseboats.

2009

Ephemerisle 2009

The event was sponsored & run by The Seasteading Institute (TSI). The only year in Ephemerisle's history with tickets.

9 Houseboats and a community platform anchored to shore.

Full details for Ephemerisle 2009.

2010

Ephemerisle 2010

TSI officially abandoned the event about a month before it was to begin due to prohibitively high insurance costs. Instead, leaderless, decentralized "NotEphemerisle" was born.

About 120 people showed up, with 8(?) houseboats, and a platorm.

More details about Ephemerisle 2010

2011

TSI handed the name over to the community and the event became "Ephemerisle" again. Every houseboat available was rented and we built a U-shaped city.

Approximately 200 people and a 20'x24' platform.

Full details on Ephemerisle 2011

2012

The first year of islands! A 40+ knot windstorm wreaked havoc.

21 houseboats. 9 other boats. About 300 people.

Full details on Ephemerisle 2012

2013

The idea of "islands" were taken to a new level. From 2009-2012, decisions were made by general consensus or by ad hoc leaders. From 2013 onward, Islands gained their independence. Every self-proclaimed island was responsible for it's own rules, self-reliance, system of government, etc.

The first independent islands were Dromhaven, Ithaka, Titan, and Shitshow/Blanket Fort

July 10-14th

Photos / Videos

Dromhaven Island

Add your history here...

Ithaka Island

Waterslide. Tea House. Cooperative spirit. Social but mellow evenings.

Add your history here...

Titan Island

8 houseboats, a few sailboats. Space Pirates. People seriously committed to social responsibility, fun, and technology. And Bacon.

Add your history here...

Shitshow / Blanket Fort

Official Trailer Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JmKMgi_A_g

Add your history here...

2014

The biggest year of Ephemerisle so far. Titan island was huge and largely the central focus of the year. No real problems, and everyone left excited for 2015.

July 14 - 20.

There were two islands, with speedboat and jet ski service gracefully provided by several kind folks, especially Randolph Hencken of The Seasteading Institute.

Photos / Video

Participant records

Events

Memocracy

Turned into a huge conference with almost everyone attending and microtalks all day.

Titan Chef

Mystery Ingredient -- Pluots.

4 chefs and their sous chefs competed in an epic battle. Jonathan Cain took the top prize.

Cuba Island

Add your history here...

Eyeland Island

Add your quiet history here...

Titan Island

Add your party history here...

2015

http://ephemerisle.org/index.php/Ephemerisle_2015

2016

2017

In early 2017, heavy storms damaged the Paradise Point marina. As a result, the marina only rented out 5 houseboats (instead of the 20+ that they normally rented out).

2018

Archipelagos

Islands

  • Washed Up Yacht Club
  • Siren Island
  • Delta Wagon
  • Bump City
  • Trash Island
  • Home Slice
  • Pie rats
  • Quiet Island

Notable events

  • First year that there were no rented houseboats.
  • First year a submarine was in attendance (Fangtooth).
  • First appearance of the Belden Barge jungle gym
  • Tenth consecutive year with no major injuries or deaths.

Photos

Links

Art

Blog Posts