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Swan Boats Opening Day 2024

Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department  are pleased to announce that the popular Boston Swan Boats will open for the 2024 season at the Boston Public Garden lagoon on Saturday, April 13, at 10 a.m.

April 13, 2024
  • 10:00am
  • 4 Charles Street
    Boston Public Garden, Lagoon
    Boston, MA 02116
  • Contact:
    Swan Boats of Boston
  • Price:
    $3.00 - $4.50
  • Neighborhood:
    Citywide
    Downtown
  • Event Type:
  • Posted:
2024-04-13T10:00:00 2024-04-13T10:00:00

For more information, please visit the Swan Boats of Boston website, call 617-522-1966, or email info@swanboats.com.

Swan Boats at the Boston Public Garden lagoon

About the Swan Boats: 

Launched in 1877 by Irish immigrant and shipbuilder Robert Paget, the Swan Boats continue to be owned and operated by the Paget family. Mr. Paget designed the Swan Boats after attending the opera Lohengrin in New York City. At the end of the opera, the hero crosses a river in a boat drawn by a swan.

Swan Boats in the Boston Public Garden Lagoon

2024 marks the 147th season for the Swan Boats. The oldest and smallest boat in the fleet just celebrated its 114th season, while the newest was launched in 1993. The swan on today’s boats is made from either copper or fiberglass, depending on the age of the boat, and encloses a paddle mechanism that is used to foot propel the boat through the water.

Fully loaded, each Swan Boat weighs three tons and is powered by the driver using a foot-propelled paddle wheel. The Swan Boats are built on oak framed pontoons sheathed in copper just as they were initially constructed in 1877. After being stored in a safe place for the winter, the boats are returned to the Public Garden Lagoon each spring.

Swan boat in the Public Garden filled with people.

April 13, 2024
  • 10:00am
  • 4 Charles Street
    Boston Public Garden, Lagoon
    Boston, MA 02116
  • Contact:
    Swan Boats of Boston
  • Price:
    $3.00 - $4.50
  • Neighborhood:
    Citywide
    Downtown
  • Event Type:
  • Posted:
2024-04-13T10:00:00 2024-04-13T10:00:00
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