Lights Out! Boathouse Row Has Gone Dark

Philadelphia has many iconic locations. The Art Museum, Independence Hall, and the Reading Terminal Market just to name a few, but its brightest attraction, without a doubt, is Boathouse Row. With its luminous glow, the row has lit the outskirts of Philly for over a century and a half, but for now… it’s lights out.

A Shining History Lesson

Boathouse Row is a historic site located on the east bank of the Schuylkill River. The site consists of 15 boathouses, which were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and are used by rowing clubs from the Philadelphia area.

Originally, the boathouses were lit by gas lamps to guide rowers during early morning or late evening practices. As time passed, more colorful and ornamental lights were added to the gas lamps. In the early 20th century, the boathouses switched to electric lights, allowing for more intricate designs and patterns.

Today, Boathouse Row remains an important part of the city’s culture. Whether it’s for the Phillies going to the World Series or the Eagles playing in the Super Bowl, the row changes its color to match the occasion. It goes without saying, such an intricate system of lights requires regular upkeep.

No Light Task

Boathouse Row went dark this past Monday. The glorious glow is gone (for now). The last major upgrade was all the way back in 2005, when the houses moved to LED lighting. In recent years, the lights have experienced outages due to ongoing maintenance issues and a failing infrastructure. The time for a full refresh is well overdue.

The historic site is undergoing a significant illumination upgrade lead by the Fairmount Park Conservancy in conjunction with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. Once complete, Boathouse Row will have more than 6,000 lights with 16 million color combinations. The total cost of the project is expected to be around $2.1 million.

8 months! That’s how long the lights will remain off. All throughout summer, Boathouse Row will remain dark. Hopefully, the iconic site will shine again by the 2023 holiday season and in time for the Birds’ trip back to the Super Bowl.