Boathouse Row is a historic site located in Philadelphia, PA, on the east bank of the Schuylkill River, just north of the Fairmount Water Works and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
It consists of a row of 15 boathouses housing social and rowing clubs and their racing shells.
Each of the boathouses has its own history, and all have addresses on both Boathouse Row and Kelly Drive.
In 1979, lights designed by architectural lighting designer Ray Grenald were installed to outline each of the boathouses, giving them a nightly Christmas-like gingerbread house appearance.
He proposed the lights after hearing talk of destroying the decaying Victorian boathouses.
Lights on the buildings at night would serve to make them more noticed and appreciated.
In 2005, after two refurbishings, the houses were outfitted with computerized LEDs that can light up in various colors.
Boathouse Row is a National Historic Landmark and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.