A young German businessman who founded a rowing club in 1875 brought rowing to Estonia. The earliest known boats also came from Germany. The history of Estonian rowing can be divided into three main eras. The first was from 1875 until World War I in 1914. During this time, there were two rowing clubs- one in Tartu and one in Parnu.

This represented the beginning of structured club-level rowing with regular training and the purchasing of rowing equipment. Estonian, Latvian, and Russian clubs also started to organize open regattas to promote rowing. At the Stockholm Olympics, Mart Kusick, was the first Estonian rower, then a member of the Russian team, to win a bronze medal.

The second period was from 1916-1940, between World War I and II. The country's third rowing club was established in Tallin in 1930. Rowing became increasingly popular in Estonia; year-round training was planned, junior and women rowers flocked to the sport, and as a result of the growing interest in competition, events became better organized. The first Estonian national rower participated in the Berlin Olympics in 1936.

The conclusion of World War II in 1948 represents the beginning of the third period of Estonia's rowing history when training resumed at the club in Parnu. In 1949, the first Estonian championships were held in regular boats and in 1950, the first championships in academic boats. A FISA-B category 2000-meter rowing course was built in Estonia in 1974.

New clubs were formed in Narva, 1975, and Viljandi, 1981. The number of people involved in rowing continued to grow as coaches recruited athletes, programs were added to sport schools and special rowing schools were formed. In 1976, Estonian athlete, Raul Arnemann wins the first Olympic medal as a member of coxless four. Juri Jaanson became the first World Champion and World Cup winner in the men's single sculls in 1990.

The Estonian Rowing Federation rejoined FISA in 1991, which allowed Estonia to send athletes to international regattas. Rowing in the nineties in Estonia had difficulties due to the change in government and the financing of clubs. Currently, the Estonian rowing system is functioning well with the senior team having good support through the Bejing Olympics.

Junior rowers are able to training and study at the same time, cooperation is being developed with scientists from local universities, and some international regattas have been organized. To date there are over eight rowing clubs in Estonia.