Schreiber, Brock, Boathouse and Beach
Also known as: Brock's Boathouse; The Boathouse
Why it's listed
Brock's Boathouse is a gable-roofed redwood building, measuring 34 by 60 feet, that sits over the water of Tomales Bay in Inverness, California. Brock Schreiber built it around 1910, and a 300-foot wharf once led out to it. For roughly three decades it was the center of social life in the small resort town, renting lockers and berths, offering fishing gear, a winch and boat ramp, and running launches that carried vacationers around the bay. Children's Beach at the foot of the wharf is still used by new generations of children. Only 78 feet of the wharf remain, and the ribs of one launch, The Queen, lie in the sand. The original wooden uprights had rotted, so volunteers poured a new concrete foundation in 1975-76, paid for with privately raised funds. The building has changed little in appearance, and it was listed as a surviving reminder of early recreation and boating on the bay.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the boathouse as the social and recreational hub of the small resort community of Inverness for about 30 years. It served vacationers with boat lockers, launches for hire, and a children's beach. It is described as a rare surviving structure of early maritime and recreational activity on Tomales Bay that has kept its original character.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78000702, listed July 7, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 12830 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Inverness |
|---|---|
| County | Marin County |
| Listed | July 7, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000702 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Brock Schreiber |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is fair. A new concrete foundation was poured in 1975-76 by volunteers, the wharf and ways are deteriorating, and the roof needs replacement. The form also describes the boathouse as vacant. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 38.10196, -122.85603 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78000702.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.