The ASUW Shell House and the land where it stands have long been gathering places. Fans of Daniel James Brown’s New York Times bestseller The Boys in the Boat, now have a unique opportunity to get an inside look at the legacy of “The Boys.” Join us for a tour through Washington Rowing’s Conibear Shellhouse and the 1918 World War I airplane hangar known to the “Boys” as the ASUW Shell House in 1936. Watch Rantz, Hume, Moch, and the rest of the ’36 Husky Clipper come to life in this 90-minute tour highlighting the historical regalia of the champion crew in both locations.
The tour will include chances to see the lettermen’s jackets of Joe Rantz and Don Hume, the IRA and Berlin Olympic medals of Joe Rantz, and the famed Husky Clipper shell.
Guests will first be led through Conibear Shellhouse, starting with an inside look at the legacy of George Pocock and the latest generation of Pocock Racing shells. We will proceed through the heart of the boathouse, the erg bays, and finally to the Windermere Cup Dining room to stand under the Husky Clipper and imagine the roar of the crowd as the Clipper took gold in the 1936 Berlin Olympics race in front of Adolf Hitler.
Following the tour through Conibear Shellhouse, guests will have the exclusive opportunity to tour through the ASUW Shell House. Built by the United States Navy in 1918, this airplane hangar is an untouched piece of history, recognized by and listed under the National Register of Historic Places. Tour attendees will enjoy the beauty of the ASUW Shell House while listening to stories of the many eras this incredible landmark has seen (including the famed Husky rowing team in 1936 and the skilled boat builder, George Pocock) over the past 99 years it has graced the shores of the Montlake Cut.
Please note: Conibear Shellhouse is an active athletic facility for UW student-athletes. Conibear is not open to the public, and opportunities to view artifacts inside are only available through guided tours.
The University of Washington acknowledges the Coast Salish people of the lands and waters where the ASUW Shell House rests — land that touches the shared waters of all tribes and bands within the Suquamish, Tulalip and Muckleshoot nations.
