Santa Monica in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Sinbad's & Moby's Dock

Photographed by Jason Voigt, August 15, 2022

1. Sinbad's & Moby's Dock Marker

Inscription.
Built as a banquet hall in 1918 and originally located next to the bowling & billiards building, the structure most commonly known as Sinbad's helped define the Pier's profile for nearly 75 years. In 1925, the building relocated to the Pier's midsection and became Hoyt's Chesapeake Café. Bette Westbrook assumed ownership in 1955, adorned it with its famous bright red paint and renamed it Sinbad's. In the 1970s Bette opened Moby's Dock, another of the Pier's legendary eateries. Moby's most recognizable characteristic was a whale's tail protruding from its outside wall. Though the building has long since vanished, the tail remained, waving proudly atop the Pier maintenance building today.

Erected by John S. Meek Company Inc, and City of Santa Monica.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1918.

Location. 34° 0.544′ N, 118° 29.864′ W. Marker is in Santa Monica, California, in Los Angeles County. It can be reached from Colorado Avenue west of Ocean Avenue. Located at Santa Monica Pier. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 356 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica CA 90401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: La Monica Ballroom (here, next to this marker); Muscle Beach

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(here, next to this marker); Playland Arcade (here, next to this marker); Santa Monica Harbor and Breakwater (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Santa Monica Pier (about 600 feet away); The Santa Monica Pier Carousel (about 600 feet away); The Purser Hotel and Apartments (approx. 0.2 miles away); Colorado Avenue Viaduct (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Monica.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, August 15, 2022

2. Sinbad's & Moby's Dock Marker

Located on a small kiosk on Santa Monica Pier with two other plaques (this one is on the right)

Whale’s Tail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 29, 2025

3. Whale’s Tail

Visible from the parking lot on the pier.

Moby's Dock & whale's tail - 1969 image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

4. Moby's Dock & whale's tail - 1969

Credits. This page was last revised on February 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 12, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 2,086 times since then and 151 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 12, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. 3. submitted on June 30, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4. submitted on September 24, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.