San Diego Rowing Club
Why it's listed
Built in 1899 on pilings over San Diego Bay, this wooden boathouse at 525 E. Harbor Drive housed the San Diego Rowing Club, which began in 1888 as the Excelsior Rowing and Swimming Club. The board-and-batten building originally measured about 45 by 82 feet, with verandas, club rooms, dressing rooms, showers and a large boat room. It was enlarged in 1905, between 1911 and 1913, and again in 1932, and was once painted barn red. Landfill has since enclosed it, ending its open-water setting. The club is credited with fostering rowing, swimming, handball and diving in San Diego, trained Olympic athletes, hosted early women's clubs, and has housed Sea Scouts since 1922. Many mayors, judges and business leaders were members. It is described as the last surviving recreational boathouse in the city and the last still used for its original purpose, though deteriorating pilings and port plans threatened its future.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as the home of San Diego's first rowing club, organized in 1888 and called the "Father of Aquatic Sports" in the city. Its membership included many civic leaders, and the club sponsored one of California's earliest Sea Scout ship companies. It is described as the last surviving recreational boathouse in the city and the last to function in its original use.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79000525, listed August 30, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 525 E. Harbor Dr, San Diego |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | August 30, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000525 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; J. H. Cassidy, Contractor |
| Architectural style | Early Shingle Style |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In limited use for rowing; pilings show advanced deterioration and the building faces a threat of demolition from harbor development. A fire inspector declared it hazardous for occupancy. |
| Acreage | 3.7 |
| Coordinates | 32.70446, -117.16304 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79000525.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.