The first crew is believed to have set out on Lake Mendota in 1874, though the only evidence of this is a letter written in 1912 by a Wisconsin alumnus.

Affectionately nicknamed "the Naval Department", the crew had a boathouse and first represented the University of Wisconsin competitively by 1893 and secured its first coach in 1894.

The 1990 win brought an invitation to the Henley Royal Regatta, the fourth visit for Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin varsity eight has placed in the top three spots at the IRA National Championship Regatta 20 times since 1950, an achievement only surpassed by the University of Washington.

In 2008, the Badgers' varsity eight won the IRA national championship over second-place Washington by 1.72 seconds, capping off an undefeated season.

During the 2010 season, the openweight women won the school's first Big Ten Conference rowing championship, held in Laingsburg, Michigan.