Vesper’s Racing History
SECTIONS
1865-1910
The Creation of the Vesper Culture - Olympic Gold
1910-1950s
The Kelly Era and beyond
Tokyo 1964
The Tokyo 1964 Olympic Gold Medal Eight
1960s & 70s
The Rise of Vesper’s International and Olympic Women
1970–1998
Vesper – The Elite Racing Club
1998–2023
Vesper – A High Performance Training Center for the USA teams
2024
Vesper – A Senior Development Training Center
The Vesper Boat Club had its beginning on Feb. 22, 1865– a decade into the flourishing of rowing clubs on Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River– with the founding of the Washington Barge Club. Five years later, on Jan 1, 1870, it changed its name to Vesper Boat Club and quickly became one of the most celebrated rowing clubs in the United States and the world. It has always been central to the Philadelphia rowing story.