The club, founded in 1889 in New York City by a group of prominent sportsmen, is based mainly around personally owned yachts and pleasure boats, but also has a long history of competitive races.

The New York Times noted that "Indian Harbor ranks among the most influential institutions of its kind in the country.

The club's first headquarters were in New York, and in 1892 it leased Finch's Island in Greenwich as its sailing base.

It is an unusual example of Mediterranean Revival design, by architect Henry Pelton, then a member of the club's race committee.

[2] Prior to World War II, huge steamers and two- and three-masted schooners crowded the channel to the west of the club and the harbor area to the south.