Swan Boats
About
The Swan Boats are pedal-powered boats that glide around the lagoon in the Boston Public Garden, which the business describes as the nation’s first botanical garden. Riders sit on benches while a driver pedals from inside the large swan figure at the stern, making a slow, quiet loop of the lagoon. The ride offers visitors and locals a peaceful break in an oasis right in the heart of Boston and is one of the city’s classic experiences.
The boats have operated since 1877, when Robert Paget launched them, reportedly inspired by the swan-drawn boat in Wagner’s opera Lohengrin. The business is family-owned and operated and is now in its fourth generation. The boats are also tied to children’s literature: they appear in Robert McCloskey’s 1941 picture book Make Way for Ducklings, whose duckling statues stand nearby in the Public Garden.
What to Know
- The Swan Boats run seasonally and do not operate in winter.
- The Public Garden adjoins Boston Common, and the Green Line’s Arlington station is nearby.
- The Swan Boats are part of the Meet Boston partner directory.
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