Google Says Mystery Barge is Interactive Learning Center

The structure on a ship off of Treasure Island. (Photo: Jordan Novet)

The mystery is officially over. The odd structure in San Francisco Bay is just a barge again, as Google has fessed up to its ownership of the project and confirmed that it's not a data center.

The company issued the following statement: "Google Barge … A floating data center? A wild party boat? A barge housing the last remaining dinosaur? Sadly, none of the above. Although it’s still early days and things may change, we’re exploring using the barge as an interactive space where people can learn about new technology."

This aligns with widespread reports that the barge under construction at Treasure Island might be some type of marketing exhibit for Google Glass. Google didn;t offer additional details about the project, which also appears to include a similar barge in Portland, Maine.

That was fun while it lasted. But there's still plenty of other Google data center news, such as this week's expansion of its sea-cooled data center in Finland, which pushes its investment in the former paper mill past the $1 billion mark.