This remarkable photo, taken in 1930 on Mapleton Street in Brighton, captures men repainting Boston’s beloved Swan Boats during the off-season. Long before they returned to the water each spring, the boats were brought to neighborhood workshops like this one for maintenance—sanded, painted, and carefully rebuilt for another season.
The Swan Boats first launched in 1877 in the lagoon of the Boston Public Garden. They were created by Irish immigrant boatbuilder Robert Paget, who drew inspiration from the opera Lohengrin. His unique design—a pedal-powered boat operated by a driver beneath the swan—has remained virtually unchanged for nearly 150 years. Still operated by the Paget family today, the Swan Boats are one of Boston’s most cherished traditions.
While many associate the Swan Boats with downtown Boston, this image reveals a lesser-known connection to Brighton. Each winter, the boats were removed from the Public Garden and brought to neighborhood spaces like this one, where skilled hands prepared them for spring.
As Boston looks ahead to the 2026 Swan Boat season opening on April 18, we’re proud to share this image as our cover photo—highlighting Brighton’s small but fascinating role in one of the city’s most enduring spring traditions.
📸 Courtesy of the Joseph P. Healey Library Digital Collections