Ice Boats at FDR Library & Museum 2025-26

 The Hudson River Ice Yacht Club is again displaying several ice boats at the FDR Library & Museum this holiday season. We kick off the season on Saturday, December 20. Stop by and visit!!

          Whiff, sailing off Athens, NY Feb. 2001 ( Lee Ferris photo)

This year we are celebrating the 150th year of Irving Grinnell's Centennial yacht "Whiff."  Described by the Poughkeepsie Eagle (May 1876) as "the finest ice yacht in the world," Whiff is one of the oldest and most elegant boats in the fleet of the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club. 

      

Whiff was built for display at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial. She's been restored and cared for by the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club for the last 60+ years.  More about Whiff here. 

        Bob Wills recently carved the gryphon for the bow sprit of Whiff, continuing long time restoration work.  

As reported in the Poughkeepsie Eagle  in May 1876:  

Her name is “Whiff” written upon the stern in fancy nickel plated letters, while her figure head is a very handsome flying dragon with open wings, a long tail, a stretched-out neck, and covered with heavy scales, slightly gilded….the whole of it superbly carved out of solid black walnut.

      Set up crew figuring out how to step the mast in the dispaly room at FDR.

    Whiff sailed under the burgee of the New Hamburgh Ice Yacht Club

Alongside Whiff this year, we will display a "modern" ice boat. Zip is a Mead Skeeter, circa 1940. The skeeter class is actively raced today and Zip is a very early version of this bow steering 75 sq ft class iceboat. She was restored by Bob Wills several years ago, and sailed on Stockbridge Bowl in 2024.

Boats will be set up by Saturday 12/20 and will be on display through January 4, 2026. This will be our third year sharing antique vintage ice yachts along with informational displays, videos, and members of the Club answering questions. 

 The boats can be seen -- with full rigging -- in the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home, during regular operating hours (9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.), with free admission. The facilities are closed on Christmas and New Years Day. Come to Hyde Park - the display is free at the Wallace Visitor Center.  

More info from the Hudson River Ice Yacht Preservation Trust 

Consider a donation for preservation efforts, and/or join our gala Jan 3, 2026.