The Public Gardens was the first public botanical garden in America.
Established in 1837
Two centuries separate the creation of the Boston Common and the Public Garden and what a difference that period made.
In 1634, the Boston Common was created as America's first public park. In contrast, the Public Garden was decorative and flowery from its inception, featuring pathways for strolling. The Public Gardens is one of Boston's greatest attractions. Thus so, because of its world famous Swan Boats created and operated for over 100 years by the Paget family. Due to the wide variety of plants and its romantic setting, the Garden attracts many weddings.
Springtime in the Boston Public Garden
Circa 1837
The Boston Public Garden was established on land that was once tidal marshes. Surrounded by Victorian-era cast iron fencing, the garden sits in the heart of downtown, surrounded by historic neighborhoods of Beacon Hill and the Back Bay area.
Circa 1870s
The Swan Boat story dates back to the 1870s when Robert Paget, whose descendants continue to operate the business, was granted a boat for hire licensed by the CIty of Boston. Rowing a small lboat in the Public Garden lagoon was a favorite summer pastime for city residents during the day and evening.
Circa 1877
In 1877, Robert introduced a catamaran-style boat to the lagoon. This boat was designed atop two pontoons and allowed passengers to sit on benches in front of the capain. The boat was foot-propelled like a bicycle attached to a paddle wheel. To cover the apparatus and wrap around the captain, Robert designed a swan.
Circa 1877
Robert and his wife, Julia were opera fans and the idea for the swan came from the opera Lohengrin. The Richard Wagner opera is based on a medieval German story in which Lohengrin, a knight of the Grail, crosses a river in a boat drawn by a swan to defend the innocence of his heroine, Princess Elsa.
1800s to 1940s
From the late 1800s until the mid-1940s, the Swan Boats and the row boats operated together in the Public Garden.
Circa 1878
Robert lived only one year after the first Swan Boats were launched. He died in 1878 at the age of 42 and his wife, Julia, a young widow with four children, assumed full management of the new enterprise. For over three decades and before women had the legal right to vote Julia managed the family business while raising her children. Since a woman-owned business was so rare, Julia was require for many years to gather signatures of support from local business owners in the Back Bay.
In 1914, Julia's youngest son John and his wife, Ella carried forward the tradition of the Paget family's Swan Boats. During this period, with increasing popularity for the ride, the boats were expanded in size to five benches that would accommodate 20 passengers per boat.
Circa 1941
Make Way for Ducklings is published. A children's picture book written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey featuring the Swan Boats. The books tells the story of a pair of mallards who raise their new family of ducklings on an island in the Public Garden lagoon.
Circa 1952
The fleet of Swan Boats consisted of six boats, the oldest of which was built in 1910. John and Ella raised six children, all of whom spent many summers working on the boats. Their son, Paul and his wife, Marilyn followed in the footsteps of Paul's parents and maintained at the helm of the operation for over 50 years.
Circa 1970
The Trumpet of the Swan is published. A children's novel by E. B. White that tells the story of Louis, the trumpeter swan born without a voice who overcomes this difficulty by learning to play a trumpet in order to impress a beautiful swan named Serena. Louis plays his trumpet for passengers on the Swan Boats and resides at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.
Today
Today, the Swan Boats continue their tradition under the management of Paul and Marilyn's daughter, Lyn and her cousin, Phil. Both are 4th generation members of the Paget family.
Preservation
The Paget family has preserved this tradition for almost 150 years, maintaining charm and integrity of wisdom that became a reality for a young boat builder and his wife. They are the only boats of their type in the world and are an important symbol of the wonderful City of Boston.
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