10 Most 2025: Monmouth Boat Club – Red Bank (Monmouth County)

Monmouth Boat Club (MBC), listed on both the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places, is one of the oldest yacht clubs in the country and a rare surviving example of 19th-century waterfront architecture. While many watersport clubs once thrived in Monmouth County, only a few endured—primarily those that secured riverfront property. Today, MBC’s building is the last of its kind on the Navesink River. 

Built atop 50 wooden pilings, the structure has been gradually leaning toward the river due to decades of deterioration. Rising sea levels, increased flooding, and other climate-related threats—including hurricanes, coastal and riverine flooding, and strong winds—are accelerating the damage. Without urgent intervention, the building risks slipping off its foundation entirely, potentially rendering it unsalvageable. 

To ensure the club's survival, the foundation must be replaced with a modern, durable system capable of withstanding marine conditions. Without this repair, the club faces the loss of its historic home—an outcome that would likely result in the transformation of the site into private or commercial development, erasing yet another piece of New Jersey’s waterfront heritage. 

Saving the Monmouth Boat Club is crucial to preserving a piece of New Jersey’s rich maritime history. As one of the oldest yacht clubs in the U.S. and the last 19th-century structure on the Navesink River, it serves as a cultural landmark and community gathering place. Protecting this site ensures that future generations can continue to connect with its history and traditions, while also addressing the growing threats posed by climate change to our coastal landmarks.