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A Ride on the Swan Boats
By Sheilamarie Nellis
April 16 was the seasonal launching day for the Swan Boats in Boston’s Public Garden. Robert Paget, great grandfather to the current family operators, launched the first pedal powered boats with the swan’s head in 1877. That was when rowing on the lagoon was a popular pastime and Mr. Paget thought it was a good idea to take the activity a step further. Children and their grown-ups ever since have agreed with his decision to create the Swan Boats whose design was inspired by the opera “Lohengrin.” The present six boats, ranging in age from 25 to 101 years old, were all handmade by different craftsmen over the years in a similar style to the original boats. Though the original Swan Boats carried eight people, newer ones hold about twenty. This is the 135th consecutive season the Paget family has owned and operated the Swan Boats on the Boston Public Garden. This Bostonian family franchise has been passed from one generation to the next -- five generations in all. The city benefits from the business, too, as the Paget family pays the city a percentage of concessions and ticket prices -- about $20,000 a year. Currently (2011) the fare is $2.75 per ride for adults and $1.50 for kids for the 15 minute cruises, which operate 7 days a week, except on rainy, windy, or very hot days. If you are visiting Boston with children, a visit to the Swan Boats is a fun outing. It's a good idea to read Robert McCloskey's "Make Way for Ducklings" and trace the path the ducks take through Boston's streets and parks while you're at it. You'll even find a bronze sculpture of that famous duck family in the Public Garden, too. Ducks and Swans -- you may want to save the crusts from your picnic lunch to share with your fowl friends. I can hear the noisy quacks and flapping wings already!
Sheilamarie grew up in Boston and rode the Swan Boats with her grandmother.
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"Make Way for Ducklings" scupture
http://www.zazzle.com/boston_public_garden_postcard-239379264341237165
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Sounds like a fun activity. I enjoyed reading about the history of the Swan Boats.
I wish that I had known about this when we went to Boston. We were just passing through but it would have been interesting to see. Thank you for sharing.
Best wishes,
Laraine
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http://sheilamarie.qondio.com/
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