Gertie the Duck Sculpture, Milwaukee

Perched on the northwest side of Milwaukee鈥檚 Wisconsin Avenue bridge, Gertie the Duck is more than just a 4-foot-tall bronze sculpture鈥攕he鈥檚 a local legend cast in metal. Created by artist Gwendolyn Gillen and installed in 1997 as part of the city鈥檚 RiverSculpture public art series, Gertie commemorates a true wartime icon who captured hearts during the final months of World War II.

In April 1945, a mallard hen was spotted nesting atop a wooden piling beneath the bridge. Milwaukee Journal outdoor writer Gordon MacQuarrie began reporting on her steadfast effort to hatch her nine eggs鈥攗ndeterred by curious crowds, honking cars, and spring storms. Her determination quickly earned her a name: Gertie. For 37 days, readers followed Gertie鈥檚 saga in a daily newspaper serial, and the story soon spread beyond Wisconsin via national and international news outlets.

By the time six ducklings hatched, Gertie had become a symbol of quiet resilience. The Boy Scouts formed a Gertie Patrol. Mother's Day cards poured in. The Wisconsin Humane Society posted a round-the-clock guard. Even Life Magazine and London鈥檚 Daily Express covered her journey. Ultimately, five ducklings and Gertie survived, and the family was briefly displayed at Gimbels department store, drawing over two million visitors before being relocated to Juneau Park lagoon.

Gertie鈥檚 tale lived on in books, toys, and television. A children鈥檚 book by Nicholas Georgiady and Louis Romano sold over 800,000 copies and was translated into six languages. She even starred in a 1963 GE True episode titled 鈥淕ertie the Great.鈥�

Today, Gertie still keeps watch over the Milwaukee River鈥攏ot just as a charming sculpture but as a feathered reminder of a moment when a little duck brought comfort, hope, and a sense of wonder to a weary world.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Milwaukee. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Sight Name: Gertie the Duck Sculpture
Sight Location: Milwaukee, USA (See walking tours in Milwaukee)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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