PILOT (Pilot Boat)
Why it's listed
Pilot is a 52-foot wooden motor vessel built in 1914 at Manuel Goularte's San Diego shipyard to carry harbor pilots out to arriving and departing ships. Planked with Port Orford cedar over Douglas fir frames, she was made to withstand rough seas at the entrance to San Diego Bay. For 82 years, until 1996, she was the city's only pilot boat, serving merchant ships and a long line of Navy vessels, among them the USS Langley and the USS Constitution. During World War II the Coast Guard and then the Navy took her over for pilot and patrol work, and she later received six chevrons for that service. The wheelhouse was enlarged in 1943, and a major restoration completed in 2001 returned her to that configuration. Berthed at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, she carries passengers on narrated tours and still delivers pilots to visiting historic ships. Her listing rests on her long link to the growth of San Diego as a seaport and naval center.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues Pilot is significant under Criterion A for her role in San Diego's maritime history and harbor development. She served as the city's only pilot craft from 1914 to 1996, delivering pilots to thousands of commercial and naval ships, including during World War II service with the Coast Guard and Navy. She is described as the oldest operational pilot boat in the United States.
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 10001160, listed January 21, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Maritime Museum of San Diego, 1492 N Harbor Dr, San Diego |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | January 21, 2011 |
| Reference number | 10001160 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1914 - 1996 |
| Architect / builder | Manuel Goularte |
| Architectural style | Other: Pilot Boat |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Maritime History, Commerce, Military |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in 2001 to her 1943 configuration; Coast Guard certified as a passenger boat and pilot boat, used for museum educational programs and tours and occasional pilot duty for visiting historic vessels. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.72090, -117.17348 (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.
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 10001160.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7194400
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.