Our History

Founded on the shores of the Anacostia River on April 27, 1910, the Washington Yacht Club and its members have served as stewards of the river – committed to ensuring affordable, accessible community boating; environmental sustainability; and advocating on behalf of the Anacostia River and its adjacent communities.

The Washington Yacht Club’s activities throughout our history emphasize our members’ sense of civic-mindedness, from reporting unpermitted dredging and dumping to the City’s Engineer Commissioner and serving as on-call marine security during WWII. Members of the WYC have consistently served as stewards of the Anacostia River, bringing attention to, and assisted in the clean- up of the ailing river. In 1923, the WYC successfully intervened chemical dumping into the Anacostia River by the Washington Gas Light Company. By 1931, the club had formed a Pollution Committee, which worked in collaboration with other boat clubs and the Isaac Walton League to clean up the river.

In 1943, the WYC again successfully intervened, this time against the L. P. Steuart Company, for leaking oil into the river. In the modern era, the historic Washington Yacht Club has launched a Foundation to expand its community engagement, maintained strategic relationships with local environmental organizations, and maintained a National Park Service and District Department of the Environment “Clean Marina” certification since 2003.

Our membership – made up of mechanics, firefighters, police officers, retired veterans, and entrepreneurs – also serve in leadership roles with community organizations such as the Potomac River Yacht Club Associations (PRYCA), the Anacostia Watershed Society, and the Anacostia and Potomac Riverkeepers. From our inception, Washington Yacht Club members built and maintained our own facilities, maintained the upkeep of buildings and grounds, and funded these activities through our own resources. Recently recognized for the significant role it played for over 113 years, The Washington Yacht Club was awarded a Historic Designation by the District of Columbia and the National Park Service and was placed on the national register in 2020.