Poughkeepsie Regatta

Early each summer, rowing enthusiasts flocked to the Hudson Valley and crowded the banks of the Hudson River between Highland and Poughkeepsie, New York, to get a glimpse of the biggest intercollegiate event of its kind. In 1895, Cornell University, Columbia University, and the University of Pennsylvania organized a contest that continued for over 50 years in this historic location. Over its tenure on the Hudson River, other universities joined in the competition, including the famous 1936 University of Washington "Boys in the Boat." At its height, 12 universities vied for supremacy at the regatta with thousands of spectators looking on. Boathouses were built on both sides of the river with "Regatta Row" on the eastern shore at the center of it all. A legacy of rowing began on this famous four-mile stretch and inspired crews to continue rowing here today.

Elizabeth Clarke, an associate librarian, and Ann Sandri, a library assistant, at Marist College have researched and documented the Poughkeepsie Regatta over the past decade. They have assembled the most comprehensive collection on the Poughkeepsie Regatta for the Marist Archives and Special Collections. With their combined knowledge, they have hosted webinars and exhibitions and have written an article for the Hudson River Valley Institute.