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.

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 nameLocationOwnerDownstream crossingUpstream crossingBuiltNotes
DCR boathouse
1 Edwin H. Land Blvd., Cambridge
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation*Charles River Dam BridgeLongfellow Bridgec. 1910Located to the north of the Museum of Science parking garage at the mouth 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 BridgeLongfellow BridgeThis club has small structures on its docks, and no land-based facilities.
Community Boating Boathouse
21 David Mugar Way, Boston MA
Community Boating, Inc*Longfellow BridgeHarvard Bridge1941Community Boating is a non-profit operation providing sailing lessons and access to small sailboats.
Union Boat Club Clubhouse
144 Chestnut Street, Boston MA
Union Boat Club*Longfellow BridgeHarvard Bridge1851? The Union Boat Club is the longest continuously operating rowing club in Boston.
MIT Sailing Pavilion
Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA		Massachusetts Institute of Technology Longfellow Bridge*Harvard Bridge1935The first facility constructed for college sailing
Charles River Yacht Club
Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA		Charles River Yacht ClubLongfellow Bridge*Harvard Bridge
H.W. Pierce Boathouse
409 Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA		Massachusetts Institute of Technology *Harvard BridgeBoston University BridgeSeptember 9, 1966Also called the "MIT Boathouse".
DeWolfe Boathouse
619 Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA		Boston UniversityHarvard Bridge*Boston University Bridge1999Commonly referred to as the "BU Boathouse".
Riverside Boat Club
796 Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA		Riverside Boat ClubBoston University Bridge*River Street Bridge1912The 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		Harvard Bridge*Boston University BridgeRiver Street BridgeBoathouse for the Boston University sailing squad
Weld Boathouse
971 Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA		Harvard UniversityJohn W. Weeks Bridge*Anderson Memorial Bridge1889 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, MA		Harvard University*Anderson Memorial BridgeEliot Bridge1900Home of the men's rowing team and the Harvard University Boat Club
Cambridge Boatclub
2 Gerry's Landing, Cambridge MA		Cambridge Boat Club Anderson Memorial Bridge*Eliot Bridge1909? A 325-member private rowing and social club involved in a variety of outreach projects.
BB&N Boathouse
Cambridge MA		Buckingham Browne & NicholsAnderson Memorial Bridge*Eliot BridgeImmediately adjacent to the Cambridge Boatclub.
Winsor and Belmont Hill Boathouse
5 Greenough Blvd, Cambridge MA		The Winsor and Belmont Hill Schools*Eliot BridgeArsenal Street Bridge2002Eight time New England Youth 4+ Champions
Henderson Boathouse
1350 Soldiers Field Road, Boston MA		Northeastern UniversityEliot Bridge*Arsenal Street Bridge
1989Cost $2.5 Million.
The Harry Parker Boathouse
20 Nonantum Road, Boston MA
Community Rowing, Inc. http://www.gocrimson.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9000&ATCLID=1580207*North Beacon Street BridgeWatertown Bridge200830,000 sq ft. building, cost $11.45 Million. It's a public boathouse. CRI offers private lessons at the boathouse. It will be used by Boston College.
Newton Boathouse
2401 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton MA
Boston Outdoor RecreationGold Star Mothers Bridge *Commonwealth Avenue Does rentals, sales, and instructional programs.
Lasell College Boathouse
Charles Street, Auburndale, Newton, MA
Lasell CollegeI95-I90 connector bridge*closed footbridge between Charles Street, Auburndale and Recreation Road, WestonUsed primaraly by the Noble and Greenough School, as well as a recreational rowing program at Lasell College and the CRI "Learn to skull" proagram.
Nahanton Park Boathouse
Nahanton Street, Newton MA
Charles River Canoe and Kayak*Nahanton Street BridgeNeedham Street BridgeDoes rentals, sales, and instructional programs.
Dexter Southfield Boathouse
100 Bridge Street, Dedham MA
Dexter Southfield School*Cawley Memorial Bridge Ames Street Bridge
Noble and Greenough Boathouse
Campus Dr., Dedham MA
Noble and Greenough School*Route 109 BridgeI-95 Bridge