Saturday, June 13, 2009

LaDuchesse...

The LaDuchesse is the 1903 Gilded-Age houseboat moored at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, NY.
As you enter the museum building you register at the admissions desk for the tour of the antique houseboat. As I walked out toward the dock it looked like a big houseboat,... but,...


As I walked farther down the dock that houseboat seemed to grow! It is extremely large!


There are many guest bedrooms on board.


The dining room is on the lower level. Can you imagine the elegant meals served here just after the turn of the century,... the last century!


The master suite is much larger than the other bedrooms. This is the sitting area...


On the other side of the room is a lovely bed, perhaps a queen size. Imagine being anchored in the 1000 Islands with the windows open and hearing the waves rock you to sleep!


Evenings aboard were spent entertaining guests with a piano player. The windows you see behind the piano raised outward and were fastened above by slender chains and hooks. That way the music could be heard out on the dancing deck...

A lounge deck by day while cruising,... a dancing deck by evening while anchored!

I could almost hear the voices and the music and the clink of glasses as people enjoyed a party over a century ago!


14 comments:

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Cedar, That boat is fabulous...Wouldn't it be neat to sleep in one of those beds with all of those windows looking out on the river. I love hearing the organs in those types of boats... What a neat boat... I'm ready to go for a long ride on that one!!!!!

We took a night cruise on the Andrew Jackson --out of Nashville once. They offered dinner and a musical show. It was incredible. I need to blog about it someday.

Have a great Sunday.
Hugs,
Betsy

Anonymous said...

How enjoyable that must have been! All in all, a rather simple, wholesome pleasure.

A New England Life said...

So they don't use it anymore?

Gorgeous boat! It has peace and serenity written all over it making you wish summer would last a little longer.

Sharon

Tammie Lee said...

such a beauty, the boat and the post.

Shelley said...

I would love to spend a night on this boat! It was so charming!! So glad you shared these photos!!

Beth Niquette said...

You are right! It looked quite small at first...and then as you got closer--wow! What a stunning place.

I would LOVE to go for a cruise on a boat like that. Magnificent. And your photos are exquisite.

Robynn's Ravings said...

Isn't that just gorgeous?! Let's sneak on and stay there. We could have ourselves a heck of a blog party!! :)

Laurie and Chris said...

Wow!! That really looks like a fun trip. You got some great pictures.

Anonymous said...

Good golly that's a terrific restoration. I have some goblets that I bought out of an old turn of the century camp, and I always picture this sort of thing when we use them. What a neat place.

NCmountainwoman said...

I love these grand old ladies. Can't imagine the fun during her glory days.

Wayfaring Wanderer said...

WOW! That is super cool. I have always wanted to travel somewhere via houseboat! That would be the ultimate adventure :o)

Jean said...

Wow! That's quite a houseboat! What an enjoyable time you must have had. Thanks for sharing this. Jean

Anonymous said...

I could definitely get along on that houseboat - just drifting on a lake. It would be grand! Nice job.

Eve said...

Thank you so much for taking me inside Cedar!! When we went there (and yes that is a BIG houseboat) they were working on the boat and it wasn't open yet. We visited Clayton every summer as it was only a 15 minute drive. A great place to ride the motorcycles right up to Alex Bay. A great post and great photos!