Our History

The Explorers Club Washington Group (ECWG) traces its roots to the early 1920s, when Explorers Club members in the nation’s capital began hosting regular lectures and gatherings to share discoveries from the field. The first recorded mention appeared in a 1924 Explorers Club news note describing “an excellent lecture program being conducted in Washington, D.C.”

By 1937, active members in the area formally established The Explorers Club Washington Round Table Group, later shortened to the Explorers Club Washington Group (ECWG). Under the leadership of Col. H.T. Cowling of the U.S. Army Air Corps and a noted student of Tibetan culture, the group began hosting monthly meetings—often at the Army-Navy Club and the Cosmos Club, where the ECWG continues to hold its Round Table Dinner Series today.

Early members included distinguished figures such as Alexander Wetmore and Waldo L. Schmitt of the Smithsonian Institution; R. Harvey Sargent and Gerald Fitzgerald of the U.S. Geological Survey; Dr. Isaiah Bowman of Johns Hopkins University; and Dr. Roy L. Sexton, father of the late Roy L. Sexton, Jr., former ECWG archivist.

A longstanding ECWG tradition is the annual Bombash, typically held between the summer and fall months. Over the years, the Bombash has taken many forms—from a weekend of fellowship and field exploration at historic sites across the Mid-Atlantic, to its more recent incarnation as a summer clam and oyster celebration shared with the Philadelphia Chapter. The tradition traces its origins to the “Bombashes” once hosted by Edward L. Sweeney at his Gibson Island, Maryland estate—festive gatherings that brought members together over Maryland’s finest seafood. Sweeney, who served as President of The Explorers Club from 1965 to 1967, was instrumental in expanding the Club’s national and international reach, and the Sweeney Medal now bears his name in recognition of that legacy.

Today, membership in the ECWG is open to all active members of The Explorers Club residing in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, or West Virginia. Explorers living outside this region may also join the ECWG by paying the standard chapter dues.

Members of the ECWG today represent a distinguished community of explorers, scientists, and leaders who continue to push the boundaries of human knowledge and discovery. Among them are legendary primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall, infectious disease expert and first female Director of the National Science Foundation Dr. Rita Colwell, and NASA Astronaut Hall of Famer CAPT. Frank L. Culbertson, Jr., to name just a few. Together, they embody the enduring spirit of exploration that has defined our chapter for nearly a century.

In 1990, the ECWG was granted 501(c)(3) nonprofit status by the IRS, allowing tax-deductible contributions in support of its programs. The Group became officially incorporated in Delaware in 1994.