List of Charles River boathouses

The Charles River in Massachusetts has a significant number of boathouses on its banks, from its mouth at Boston Harbor to its source at Echo Lake in Hopkinton.

The boathouses are mostly situated along the Boston and Cambridge banks of the Charles River Basin, upstream as far as the Arsenal Street Bridge, and downstream as far as the Charles River Dam. Many of the boathouses belong to universities, including Boston University, Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Northeastern University. Other boathouses belong to private clubs, some of which date back to the 19th century, while others belong to non-profit organizations dedicated to making the river accessible to the public for various types of boating. There are a modest number of for-profit boathouses that offer public boating services on the river above the Watertown Dam. Charles River Canoe & Kayak, which operates a boathouse in Newton, also provides rental services at other locations on the river.

The biggest event of the year involving the boathouses is the Head of the Charles Regatta, held every October. The houses see usage nearly year-round, weather permitting and pending the icing over of the Charles in winter months.

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Listings

This list starts from the mouth of the river, with the first house near the Charles River Dam Bridge, and continues upstream. The nearest crossing to each boathouse is marked with an asterisk (*).

Boathouse name Location Owner Downstream crossing Upstream crossing Built Notes
DCR boathouse
1 Edwin H. Land Blvd., Cambridge
42°22′06″N 71°04′24″W / 42.36839°N 71.073348°W / 42.36839; -71.073348 (DCR Boathouse) 		Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation *Charles River Dam Bridge Longfellow Bridge c. 1910 Located to the north of the Museum of Science parking garage at the mouth of the Lechmere Canal, this boathouse dates to the period of the first dam's construction.
Charlesgate Yacht Club
20 Cambridge Parkway, Cambridge 		Charlesgate Yacht Club *Charles River Dam Bridge Longfellow Bridge This club has small structures on its docks, and no land-based facilities.
Community Boating Boathouse
21 David Mugar Way, Boston MA[1]
42°21′35″N 71°04′23″W / 42.359836°N 71.073015°W / 42.359836; -71.073015 (Community Boating Boathouse) 		Community Boating, Inc *Longfellow Bridge Harvard Bridge 1941 Community Boating is a non-profit operation providing sailing lessons and access to small sailboats.
Union Boat Club Clubhouse
144 Chestnut Street, Boston MA[2]
42°21′28″N 71°04′24″W / 42.357815°N 71.073374°W / 42.357815; -71.073374 (Union Boat Club Boathouse) 		Union Boat Club[3] *Longfellow Bridge Harvard Bridge 1851? (founding of the club) The Union Boat Club is the longest continuously operating rowing club in Boston.
MIT Sailing Pavilion
Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA 		Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Longfellow Bridge *Harvard Bridge 1935 The first facility constructed for college sailing[4]
Charles River Yacht Club
Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA 		Charles River Yacht Club Longfellow Bridge *Harvard Bridge
H.W. Pierce Boathouse
409 Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA 		Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)[5] *Harvard Bridge Boston University Bridge September 9, 1966[6] Also called the "MIT Boathouse".
DeWolfe Boathouse

619 Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA 		Boston University[7] Harvard Bridge *Boston University Bridge 1999[7] Commonly referred to as the "BU Boathouse".
Riverside Boat Club[8]
796 Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA 		Riverside Boat Club Boston University Bridge *River Street Bridge 1912 The Riverside Boat Club was founded in 1869. Those wishing to join must go through a five step application process before becoming a provisional member. Used by Northeastern University from 1963 to 1990.[9]
BU Sailing Pavilion
Storrow Drive, Boston MA 		Harvard Bridge *Boston University Bridge River Street Bridge Boathouse for the Boston University sailing squad
Weld Boathouse

971 Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA 		Harvard University[10] John W. Weeks Bridge *Anderson Memorial Bridge 1889 main section built in 1906.[11] Commonly referred to as the "Radcliffe Boathouse". Home of Harvard's women's rowing team. It is also home to Harvard University's club sculling program, the Harvard Kennedy School Rowing Club, and the intramural crew teams for Harvard College's houses.[12]
Newell Boathouse
65 Soldiers Field Road, Boston (Allston), MA 		Harvard University[13][14] *Anderson Memorial Bridge Eliot Bridge 1900 Home of the men's heavyweight and lightweight rowing teams and the Harvard University Boat Club
Cambridge Boat Club
2 Gerry's Landing, Cambridge MA 		Cambridge Boat Club (CBC) Anderson Memorial Bridge *Eliot Bridge 1909? (founding of the club) A 325-member private rowing and social club involved in a variety of outreach projects. Also home to the Cambridge Rindge & Latin School rowing team.
BB&N Boathouse
Cambridge MA 		Buckingham Browne & Nichols Anderson Memorial Bridge *Eliot Bridge Immediately adjacent to the Cambridge Boat Club.
Winsor and Belmont Hill Boathouse
5 Greenough Blvd, Cambridge MA 		The Winsor and Belmont Hill Schools *Eliot Bridge Arsenal Street Bridge 2002 Eight time New England Youth 4+ Champions (2003–2010)
Henderson Boathouse

1350 Soldiers Field Road, Boston (Brighton) MA 		Northeastern University[15] Eliot Bridge *Arsenal Street Bridge[16]
42°21′51″N 71°8′29.7″W / 42.36417°N 71.141583°W / 42.36417; -71.141583 (Henderson Boathouse) 		1989[17] Cost $2.5 Million.[17]
Harry Parker Boathouse

20 Nonantum Road, Boston (Brighton) MA
42°21′31″N 71°9′56″W / 42.35861°N 71.16556°W / 42.35861; -71.16556 (Harry Parker Boathouse) 		Community Rowing, Inc. (CRI)[18][19] *North Beacon Street Bridge Watertown Bridge[19] 2008[18] 30,000 sq ft. building, cost $11.45 Million. A nonprofit facility open to the public, offering a wide range of rowing classes and recreational and competitive teams for people of all ages and abilities. Also home to the Boston College women's and men's rowing teams.[17]
Newton Boathouse

2401 Commonwealth Avenue (Route 30), Newton MA
42°20.683′N 71°15.582′W / 42.344717°N 71.259700°W / 42.344717; -71.259700 (Newton Boathouse)[20] 		Boston Outdoor Recreation Gold Star Mothers Bridge (Prospect Street, Waltham) *Commonwealth Avenue (Rt. 30)[20] Does rentals, sales, and instructional programs.
Lasell College Boathouse

Charles Street, Auburndale, Newton, MA
42°20′30″N 71°15′30″W / 42.341550°N 71.258297°W / 42.341550; -71.258297 (Lasell College Boathouse) 		Lasell College I95-I90 connector bridge *closed footbridge between Charles Street, Auburndale and Recreation Road, Weston Used primarily by the Noble and Greenough School, as well as a recreational rowing program at Lasell College.
Nahanton Park Boathouse

Nahanton Street, Newton MA
42°17′50″N 71°12′27″W / 42.29731°N 71.207421°W / 42.29731; -71.207421 (Nahanton Park Boathouse)[20] 		Charles River Canoe and Kayak *Nahanton Street Bridge Needham Street Bridge Does rentals, sales, and instructional programs.
Dexter Southfield Boathouse

100 Bridge Street, Dedham MA
42°16′04.9″N 71°10′30.2″W / 42.268028°N 71.175056°W / 42.268028; -71.175056 (Dexter Southfield Boathouse) 		Dexter Southfield School *Cawley Memorial Bridge (Route 109) Ames Street Bridge
Noble and Greenough Boathouse

Campus Dr., Dedham MA
42°15′30.5″N 71°11′17.8″W / 42.258472°N 71.188278°W / 42.258472; -71.188278 (Noble and Greenough Boathouse) 		Noble and Greenough School *Route 109 Bridge I-95 Bridge

References

  1. ^ "Community Boating, Inc. - Boston, MA | Sailing for All Since 1946". community-boating.org. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
  2. ^ "Union Boat Club". Archived from the original on 2008-12-11. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  3. ^ "Union Boat Club". Archived from the original on 2010-07-30. Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  4. ^ "MIT Sailing: History". sailing.mit.edu. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
  5. ^ "MIT Campus Map". whereis.mit.edu. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
  6. ^ "Harold W. Pierce Boathouse". MIT Athletics. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "GoTerriers.com | The Official Site of Boston University Athletics". goterriers.cstv.com. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
  8. ^ "RBC Guide". Archived from the original on 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
  9. ^ "The Process". Archived from the original on 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
  10. ^ "Untitled Document". fas.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
  11. ^ "The Welds of Harvard Yard". harvardmagazine.com. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
  12. ^ "Harvard Recreation". Archived from the original on 2018-09-18. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
  13. ^ http://www.gocrimson.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9000&ATCLID=522991&SPID=3652&SPSID=54259[permanent dead link‍]
  14. ^ Newell Boathouse at Harvard University
  15. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-04-04. Retrieved 2008-12-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ "Boston.com Events: Upcoming Things to Do". calendar.boston.com. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
  17. ^ a b c "Community Rowing Boathouse - archBOSTON.org". archboston.org. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
  18. ^ a b http://www.gocrimson.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9000&ATCLID=1580207[permanent dead link‍]
  19. ^ a b "Home » Community Rowing, Inc". communityrowing.org. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
  20. ^ a b c "Map & Directions :: Paddling Store :: Charles River Canoe & Kayak". paddleboston.com. Retrieved 2016-07-26.