Naval Military Hangar--University Shell House
historic place
This historic place, known as the Naval Military Hangar—University Shell House, is located in Seattle, King County. It was constructed in 1918 by the U.S. Navy as a hangar for amphibious aircraft during World War I. After the war, the Navy transferred ownership to the University of Washington. From 1920 to 1949, the building served as the University's shell house. It was home to several generations of Husky oarsmen, including the 1936 Olympic Gold Medal crew, famously known as “The Boys In the Boat.” Master shell builder George Pocock also maintained his workshop here from 1922 to 1949. After 1949, the building became the Canoe House, used for canoe rentals until 1975. The site itself has a deeper history, known as stəx̌ʷugʷit, meaning “carry a canoe,” by Indigenous Coast Salish peoples. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and designated a Seattle Landmark in 2018. A historical marker, erected in 2016, commemorates its naval origins and its role in rowing history. This structure stands as a tangible link to both military aviation and the University of Washington's celebrated rowing legacy.