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.
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 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 Club20 Cambridge Parkway, CambridgeCharlesgate Yacht Club*Charles River Dam BridgeLongfellow BridgeThis club has small structures on its docks, and no land-based facilities.Community Boating Boathouse21 David Mugar Way, Boston MACommunity Boating, Inc*Longfellow BridgeHarvard Bridge1941Community Boating is a non-profit operation providing sailing lessons and access to small sailboats.Union Boat Club Clubhouse144 Chestnut Street, Boston MAUnion Boat Club*Longfellow BridgeHarvard Bridge1851? (founding of the club)The Union Boat Club is the longest continuously operating rowing club in Boston.MIT Sailing PavilionMemorial Drive, Cambridge MAMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)Longfellow Bridge*Harvard Bridge1935The first facility constructed for college sailingCharles River Yacht ClubMemorial Drive, Cambridge MACharles River Yacht ClubLongfellow Bridge*Harvard BridgeH.W. Pierce Boathouse409 Memorial Drive, Cambridge MAMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)*Harvard BridgeBoston University BridgeSeptember 9, 1966Also called the "MIT Boathouse". DeWolfe Boathouse 619 Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA Boston University Harvard Bridge *Boston University Bridge 1999 Commonly referred to as the "BU Boathouse". Riverside Boat Club 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. BU Sailing Pavilion Storrow Drive, Boston MA *Boston University Bridge River Street Bridge Boathouse for the Boston University Dinghy Sailors (BUDS) Weld Boathouse 971 Memorial Drive, Cambridge MAHarvard University John W. Weeks Bridge *Anderson Memorial Bridge 1889 main section built in 1906. 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. Newell Boathouse 65 Soldiers Field Road, Boston (Allston), MA Harvard Universityhttp://www.gocrimson.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9000&ATCLID=522991&SPID=3652&SPSID=54259Newell Boathouse at Harvard University *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) MANortheastern University Eliot Bridge *Arsenal Street Bridge 1989 Cost $2.5 Million. Harry Parker Boathouse 20 Nonantum Road, Boston (Brighton) MA Community Rowing, Inc. (CRI)http://www.gocrimson.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9000&ATCLID=1580207 *North Beacon Street Bridge Watertown Bridge 2008 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. Newton Boathouse 2401 Commonwealth Avenue (Route 30), Newton MA Boston Outdoor Recreation Gold Star Mothers Bridge (Prospect Street, Waltham) *Commonwealth Avenue (Rt. 30) Does rentals, sales, and instructional programs. Lasell College Boathouse Charles Street, Auburndale, Newton, MA 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 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 Dexter Southfield School *Cawley Memorial Bridge (Route 109) Ames Street Bridge Noble and Greenough Boathouse Campus Dr., Dedham MA Noble and Greenough School *Route 109 Bridge I-95 Bridge
References
External links Sparks Consulting College Rowing Database