About

The Foundation

The Seattle Yacht Club Historic Preservation Foundation raises funds to preserve, restore and maintain the historic and architecturally significant SYC Mainstation and surrounding property on Portage Bay, to support historic building preservation in the areas in which they are located, and to foster community awareness and appreciation for the works of architecture for the historic nature of the club associated with this property.

Our History

In 1909, the Seattle Yacht Club and the Elliott Bay Yacht Club consolidated under a single burgee. The early years were spent at the clubhouse on Duwamish Head. But when the Portage Bay property became available in 1917, just months after the Ship Canal opened for traffic, the Club seized the opportunity to plant deeper roots.

Past Commodore John Graham Sr. designed a new clubhouse for the site. Construction began in 1919 and was completed in the spring of 1920. Decades later, his son John “Jack” Graham Jr. continued that legacy, completing the first major remodel in 1963 which added the Ward Room formal dining room, a larger Marine Room casual restaurant and deck, and offices below.

Why Preservation Matters

Historic structures don’t decline all at once. They fade gradually, through deferred maintenance, aging materials, and the quiet passage of time. Appreciation for what a place means is not enough to keep it standing. The SYC Historic Preservation Foundation exists to close that gap, turning the community’s regard for its heritage into the active, funded work that preservation actually requires.

Dear Community

We are proud to administer the Seattle Yacht Club Historic Preservation Foundation (SYCHPF) in a sustainable way that creates long lasting value for SYC. Our future growth plans for SYCHPF take into consideration the long-term planning and governance so that SYC leadership can make prudent decisions about future care of the Mainstation building.

We invite you to join us at SYCHPF so that future generations of SYC members will always have a place to call home.

Pam Lowry

Chair President

Board of Directors

Randy Witt

Carol Basile

Pam Murray

H. Erik Sabiers

Brent Reys

Christine Lange

Christian Lockwood

Philip Reid

Financial Transparency

The SYC Historic Preservation Foundation (SYCHPF) is a 501(c)(3) entity (EIN 33-3808903) that can receive tax-deductible contributions used exclusively to preserve, restore, and maintain the historic and architecturally significant SYC Mainstation buildings. Contributions cannot be used for club operations nor improvements to the Mainstation that are not “historical” as defined by the IRS.

Inspired to support?

Major funding is required to ensure that these historic properties are preserved for future generations. Their ongoing restoration and preservation is made possible by the Seattle Yacht Club Historic Preservation Foundation through your generous support.