Tour Frank Furness’s Castle Ringstetten and Undine Barge Club
Meet at Castle Ringstetten. See description for detailed instructions
June 12, 2025 at 6 pm
Frank Furness’s Castle Ringstetten and Undine Barge Club
Founded in 1856, the Undine Barge Club, named after the spirit from the Legend of Undine, was an organization created for "healthful exercise” and “relaxation from business.” Their first boat house was a fifty feet long by eight feet wide shed to house their equipment and the Castle Ringstetten was later added upriver to host community events, club dinners, and celebrations. Designed by the firm Furness & Hewitt, the Castle features a bold form with Victorian details and beautiful leaded glass windows. Outgrowing their first boat house, the architecture firm of Furness & Evans later designed their current boat house in 1882 showcasing a playful use of materials and the unexpected massing of the structure.
Join us on a tour of these two buildings starting at Castle Ringstetten and ending at the Undine Boat House to experience these meticulously maintained Furnessian gems and to learn more about the Undine Barge Club.
Snacks and refreshments on the deck at the boathouse to follow.
Location: This 2-part tour requires a car to travel between the two sites. Please contact [email protected] if you need transportation arrangements.
Site 1: Castle Ringstetten- Drive to 4414 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19129 (map), entering the property via Ridge Avenue and parking on the grass to the left. Meet at the front porch of Castle Ringstetten down the driveway towards Kelly Drive.
Site 2: Undine Barge Club- Drive and park at the parking lot next to Lloyd Hall Recreation Center(Map). Walk to #13 Boathouse Row, 2 buildings from the lighthouse at the end of the row.
Accessibility- Please email [email protected] if you need assistance with accessibility requirements or have any questions.
