London has the Thames. Paris has the Seine. Cairo has the Nile. Boston has the Charles.
Many of the world's most beloved cities were built around rivers. For centuries, the water provided civilizations with means of transportation, irrigation, recreation, and more. And aside from their practical uses, rivers tend to cement themselves into the very identity of their city; after all, who can imagine Venice without the Grand Canal and its quintessential gondoliers?
Boston is no different. The Charles River is central to the city's history, from when it was called Quinobequin by the pre-colonial Massachusett people to when European settlers used it as a hub of manufacturing and hydropower. Today, it is home to countless fishermen, city boat tours, pleasure boats, recreational water sports, and some of the most elite rowing teams in the nation. From past to present, the Charles is a symbol of Boston's resilient, vibrant, and transformative nature. These photos seek to capture fleeting moments that define the timeless relationship between the river and the people who call it home.
Clear skies in the early mornings are beginning to become a luxury as the clouds and rain of autumn creep in on the East Coast. Gaggles of geese and crews of rowers are some of the few awake early enough to see the last spectacular sunrises of summer.
Rowing teams in eight-man boats practice their racing lines for the upcoming Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR), a historic staple event on the Charles River shared between the cities of Boston and Cambridge.
The Longfellow Bridge spans from Boston’s Beacon Hill to Cambridge’s Kendall Square, carrying Route 3, the MBTA Red Line, and bicycle and pedestrian traffic above and towering over rowing crews, sailboats, kayakers, fishermen, and more below. Originally constructed in 1900, the intricate granite carvings on the towers are meant to resemble the prows of Viking ships, referring to a purported journey by Leif Eriksson up the Charles around 1000 A.D..
The Grand Junction Railroad Bridge runs underneath the Boston University Bridge to connect the B.U. campus to the Cambridgeport neighborhood, and is but one of many beloved landmarks of the Charles River. The bridge has been the canvas for many a graffiti artist with decorations dating back at least three decades, many of which reference certain events or movements, such as the “BELIEVE WOMEN” seen here, a popular slogan associated with the #MeToo movement.
Henderson Boathouse is the home of the Northeastern University men’s and women’s rowing teams, one of the more modern of the 22 rowing boathouses that line the shores of the Charles River. With a rowing team founded in 1965, Northeastern is blessed with a beautifully constructed boathouse and a picturesque setting.
Northeastern University rowing crews launch boats off of their dock at Henderson Boathouse early in the mornings before classes or co-ops begin. Their commitment and discipline when it comes to such practices is part of what makes Northeastern home to one of the top 10 collegiate rowing programs in America.
All photos by C. Craft
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