History of Ephemerisle
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.
Contents
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
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 as Islands gain independence.
The first independent islands were Dromhaven, Ithaka, Titan, and Shitshow/Blanket Fort
More details on Ephemerisle 2013
2014
The biggest year of Ephemerisle so far. Titan island was the "big island". First cooking competition: Titan Chef.
Full details for Ephemerisle 2014
2015
All houseboats were rented within hours of date being announced. Titan grows into the Elysium Archipelago. Bump bed made a bunch of noise. Oceanus brings out a big ship.
Full details for 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
- Elysium
- Bargeworld
- Blues House
- UFO
- Flatland
- USS Mazapeta
- DIYsland
- Pontunery
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
- Belden Barge Jungle Gym
- Marc Merlin's party shirt
