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Building History

This building was originally built to be a hangar for the Aviation Training Corps, and was used as a shell house by the UW until 1949.

Alteration

A fundraising campaign in 2024 netted $19.2 million for the renovation and preservation of the Old Shellhouse, later renamed the UW Canoe House. Fundraising was greatly aided by the publication of the book and the release of the film, "The Boys in the Boat," that enhanced awareness of the accomplishments of the 1936 gold-medal winning crew. Jackson Holtz of the UW News.edu said of the campaign: "The UW’s 'ASUW Shell House: The Next 100 Years' campaign to restore and renovate the iconic building on the Montlake Cut surpassed all expectations, with donors contributing $19.2 million. Thanks to donors from around the state and world, the historic building will be renovated as a learning and gathering space. Home to the 1936 rowing team that won Olympic gold and was featured in the best-selling book and feature film, 'The Boys in the Boat,' the shell house will serve future generations of students and the community, standing as a monument to its history: built as a seaplane hangar for World War I on Coast Salish land that once served as a canoe portage. Over the decades, the building has inspired multiple generations of rowers and students. Nearly a third of donations came from donors who previously had no direct UW affiliation." (See Jackson Holtz, UW News.edu, "UW’s campaign to restore the ASUW Shell House exceeds goal, showcases community support," published 05/01/2024, accessed 05/02/2024.)

PCAD id: 9525