Our Mission
Our mission is to tell the history of rowing both locally and nationally through this virtual museum which catalogues and displays important rowing-related objects, photographs, videos, and audio recordings. The Project seeks to inventory, preserve, where possible, and share with the public, artifacts that tell the story of this iconic sport and its place in American history.
Our Motive
Boathouse Row, one of the world’s most historic rowing venues, is losing its history. What is being lost is not only the history of the sport, but the stories of Philadelphia’s social history as seen through the culture of the rowing clubs. Nationally, many rowing clubs face this same challenge - they are (rightfully) focused on developing rowers and winning races for the future, not on preserving what’s in their past. Our hope is to elevate the cause of preservation, as a matter of great importance to the American rowing community.
Our Endeavor
The Rowing History Project team (learn more about the Project team) has spent over three years researching and developing what we believe is the most user-friendly platform to host and showcase a digital rowing museum. Over 15 Collections, as a selection or in whole, are part of the RHP launch. The Project begain with Philadelphia’s rich rowing heritage and invites rowing organizations, historians, athletes and communities throughtout the United States and abroad to participate in preserving and sharing the sport’s collective history.
Our Mission and Goals are defined very clearly in the Rowing History Project flyer.
How to Use This Site
- Navigate to the Collections page to browse by club & individual collections. Each Collection has a home page with description and highlights. Explore each Collection’s various types of objects and artifacts, published and archival materials.
- Narrow your search by subject, collection, or archive type. Searches may be accessed through the Home page or within a Collection page.
- Enjoy the Stories…these are digital exhibits composed of imagery and media catalogued on the site, together with narrative text created by the “Storyteller”.
- Check back often…Collections will grow…Stories will be shared and passed down through generations.
For Club Officials & Collectors
Please see our “Best Practices in Records Management for Rowing Clubs and Collectors.” This guide was created by our Consulting Archivist from the Conservation Center for Art and Historical Artifacts, to assist leaders in organizing and preserving their organizational documents, governance documents and archival materials. Reach out to the team at rowingarchives@hosr.org if you’d like to be part of The Rowing History Project.
Stay connected by joining our mailing list to receive updates on the latest additions and new collections.
Learn More About RHP
Fair Use Disclaimer: This site is for educational purposes only. Content not developed by the Rowing History Project may be provided on this platform from time to time for educational purposes. Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement is intended.