About

The Schuylkill Navy is the local amateur athletic organizing body for rowing on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, PA. The private rowing clubs of Boathouse Row are voluntary members of the Navy, which promotes cooperation and collective action among all parties, to insure the enjoyment of rowing on the public waterway of the Schuylkill.

The Navy sponsors four annual regattas on the river, establishes and enforces the Rules of the River, and represents the collective voice of the Member Clubs in dealings with the City of Philadelphia, Fairmount Park and other state and federal governmental agencies, such as the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency. 

Founded in 1858, the Navy has preserved extensive historical archives at the Independence Seaport Museum. The Navy does not own it’s own house on Boathouse Row, but since the mid 1950’s has leased meeting space at the Pennsylvania Barge Club (PBC) at #4 Boathouse Row. PBC is the location for the monthly Naval Board Meetings, and for other meetings and events associated with the
Navy mission.

Today, the Navy has many important artifacts and archival materials in it’s collection, and the Rowing History Project is proud to display these to the public:

  • The original signed charter document from the mid 19th century.
  • A collection of early engraved “recurring trophies” from the 19th century, which were awarded to the victors of annual Navy-sponsored races, but were returned afterwards, to be awarded to the victor the following year.
  • A collection of “recurring trophies” for the annual Stotesbury Cup regatta. 
  • The Commodore and Vice-Commodore flags that were flown during events when Navy officials were present.
  • Four historical books published by the Navy, which have been digitized and can be viewed on the Rowing History Project site. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time these volumes have been available on-line for public viewing.

Please feel free to browse and enjoy this collection. It is an important legacy of amateur athletics in the United States, and a testament to the local rowing community, and Philadelphia culture and history.

For further discussion of the Navy and it’s role in the broader Philadelphia community, please see the interview with former Commodore, Bonnie Mueller, conducted by the Rowing History Project in 2025; and also the video, “Crying Foul: The Rise of the Schuylkill Navy” produced by the Rowing History Project in July, 2023. Both videos are linked below.