Gertie the Duck
c. mid 20th century
In spring of 1945 bridge tenders on the Milwaukee River noticed a duck had nested on one of the Wisconsin Avenue bridge pilings, and she was caring for eggs. In 1945 America was growing tired of the deaths and struggle that were brought by WWII. Gertie the duck became a welcome reprieve to the war effort, and a reminder about the fragility of life.
The Milwaukee Journal had a daily column about the incubation and subsequent hatching of the eggs. Gertie had six ducklings: Black Bill, Dee Dee, Freddie, Millie, and Pee Wee. The rest of the nation quickly became interested in the activities and care of these Milwaukee stars and national papers began running columns on them. Their fame was such that Life Magazine featured them in a publication that summer, and even a London paper featured their story on their front page. It is estimated that more than two million people came to the city to see the ducklings that spring and summer in 1945. They were eventually cared for in a Gimbel’s window display, with climate control and caretakers, before being released in a park on Lake Michigan.
Their fame turned into legend and in 1959 a children’s book was written by Nick Georgiady and Louis Romano titled “Gertie the Duck”. In 1997 a bronze statue was erected in Milwaukee honoring Gertie and her ducklings, thanking them, in a way, for giving America a reason for hope during a tumultuous time in our history.
Thank you to Linda Devitt for adopting this artifact! This support enhances our Collections Department’s artifact preservation program. Learn more about our Adopt An Artifact program.
