La Duchesse Update

What’s New with La Duchesse?

New Upholstery and a Familiar Sculpture Adorn ABM's Iconic Houseboat

2021 visitors have been able to see our most recent restoration efforts on La Duchesse including brand new fabrics and upholsteries gracing the original dancing deck furnishings on the second level of the Museums largest collection object.

Originally built by George Boldt in 1903, La Duchesse was purchased after his death by E.J. Noble and then purchased by the McNally family in 1943. After they acquired her, the McNally family invested a great deal of time and money into La Duchesse which served as the family summer residence just off of Wellesley Island for over 50 years.

Since the arrival of La Duchesse in 2005 the Museum has undertaken an extensive restoration and preservation program to interpret the boat as the McNallys would have in the mid-20th century.

The new outdoor fabrics used on the dancing deck furniture were sourced with the assistance of Interior Designer Jenny Brown of Chicago and the upholstery work was performed by Carulli’s Custom Upholstery of Syracuse, NY.

While visiting La Duchesse you may notice a new sculpture located in the second floor living area. The new sculpture is a reproduction of Fredric Remington’s The Bronco Buster loaned to the ABM by our friends at the Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg, NY.

Andrew McNally had a similar reproduction of The Bronco Buster that he proudly displayed on La Duchesse in the summer and in Chicago every winter. Historically, The Bronco Buster would have been displayed where the Steinway Art Case piano currently sits as the piano was not on board during the McNallys ownership of La Duchesse.

The ABM is proud to partner with the Frederic Remington Art Museum to add another level to the interpretation to one of our most unique and beloved boats.