Guideboat, circa 1905
Ben and Ira Parsons, Old Forge, New York

In the late 19th century, the Adirondack guideboat evolved from a hunting and
trapping boat into a graceful craft enjoyed by vacationers and sportsmen alike. The Adirondack
wilderness offered members of the upper and middle classes an escape from their urban industrial lives.

A guideboat’s appearance and craftsmanship were important, for vacationers saw them as an indication of their guide’s backwoods skills. The craft showed influences of the contemporary Arts and Crafts movement,
which valued hand-made objects over those made by machines in factories.

My father purchased this boat for the sole purpose of fishing. He was an ardent lake trout
angler and fished whenever he could. He invariably took me with him and I have fond
memories of those days. As I grew older I bore the brunt of carrying the boat on those
trips which required a portage. This boat has been in many lakes, streams, and ponds
in the Adirondacks. – Frank G. Gebhart