Members of PBC watched with concern as our neighbor, The Washington Canoe Club, had their historic building deemed unstable and closed by the National Park Service. Like us, they had been enjoying launching from this beautiful site on the Potomac for over 100 years. Aware that boathouses are vulnerable to weather, floods and stresses of having an active rowing program, the club commissioned an architectural and engineering study to determine the stability of our boat house. The Baker Report was released in 2013. There was a lot to be addressed and much talk about how to pay for it.

Gretchen Ellsworth turned talk into action. The Potomac River Boathouse Foundation was formed as a tax exempt 501 (c) (3) entity in 2014 and she became the founding President. PRBF also owes a great debt of gratitude to Michael Kummer, another PBC member, who became the founding Treasurer and donated his legal talent to make the foundation a reality.

The mission of PRBF is to preserve for the benefit of the public the PBC historic boat house, in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Guidelines for Treatment of Historic Properties. The boathouse is listed in the DC Inventory of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places. The PRBF also supports efforts to preserve, beautify and maintain the scenic Potomac River shoreline and the historic Georgetown waterfront. PRBF offers an opportunity to address preservation of the historic boat house with tax deductible donations.

The first project undertaken was replacing the iconic riverfront porch. For this Potomac Boat Club and The Potomac River Boathouse Foundation were awarded the 2017 District of Columbia Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation for Stewardship.

In collaboration with PRBF the club has replaced the roof, replaced the windows and French doors to the ballroom, restored siding and conducted another engineering study of Mechanical, Electric & Plumbing systems throughout the building.  For more information or to donate, please visit the PRBF website or contact PRBF directly:

Potomac River Boathouse Foundation
P.O. Box 32228
2336 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20007-1843