Quick: What do Calvin Coolidge, Princess Grace, and Cyndi Lauper have in common? If you’re guessing that they all wanted to have fun, you’re getting warm. Give up? Why, they’ve all ridden on the Swan Boats, of course! So have you, probably. (And if you haven’t, you’re certainly missing out!) Swan Boats have been gliding along the Public Garden lagoon since Victorian days, delighting passengers of all ages and from all walks of life. Befitting the first botanical garden in the United States, the Swan Boats are the only watercraft of their kind in the world. Offering splendid views of the venerable trees and vivid flower beds of the Public Garden and the handsome historic buildings beyond, each jaunt aboard the Swan Boats invites us on a journey in time and tradition.
Join The Boston Landmarks Commission at the storied Taj Boston for our Preservation Month 2014 Keynote Event on Thursday, May 1 at 6 pm. At this historic hotel overlooking the Public Garden,Lyn Paget, the descendant of the original Swan Boat operators, shares with us her fascinating account of this little flotilla, from its earliest launch to date. Lyn will explain how in 1877 her great-grandfather Robert Paget first adapted the now-familiar swan imagery from Wagner’s Lohengrin for his very first paddleboat. The actual birds’ legendary attributes of gracefulness and fidelity seem reflected by the fleet’s continuation and growth, after Robert’s untimely death, by his widow Julia, a pioneering businesswoman. Remaining a Paget family enterprise to this day, the Swan Boats bloom perennially as both a tourist attraction and a source of seasonal employment for the vigorous young people whose deft pedal work keeps them afloat. Now well into their second century, the Swan Boats grow yearly in fame through the ever- popular works of children’s authors Robert McCloskey and E. B. White, attracting generations of new enthusiasts the world over, Bostonians and visitors alike. Come hear Lyn’s interesting facts and anecdotes, learn how the vessels are operated and maintained, and revel in the surprising history of these beloved symbols of Boston itself. Reception to follow.
Free and open to the public. As space is limited, pre-registration is required. Contact tonya.loveday@boston.gov to sign up.
