Make Way for the Ducklings
Walking through the Boston Public Gardens, there is a familiar and beloved sight: a line of small bronze ducks following closely behind their mother. Most locals recognize them as characters from the classic children’s book “Make Way for Ducklings” by Robert McCloskey.
These statues were created by sculptor Nancy Schon and installed in 1987 as a tribute to McCloskey’s book, which was published in 1941 and set right here in Boston. The story follows Mrs. Mallary and her ducklings as they navigate the city, crossing busy streets with the help of Boston police, on their way to the Public Garden.
The sculpture captures that moment: Mrs. Mallard leading her eight ducklings, Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Quack, Pack and Quack, in a gentle procession through the park. It was placed here intentionally, allowing visitors to step into the story and walk alongside the characters.
Over the years, these statues have taken on a life of their own. Depending on the season, you might find them dressed in scarves or hats.
As I walked by with friends visiting from outside the area, I was reminded that not everyone has the same point of reference. To them, it was a row of ducks, with no other story attached.
So many things we pass each day are filled with meaning, stories we have learned, places we recognize, symbols that connect us to something larger. But without that context, they can appear as something entirely different.
What is it that draws us in? Is it familiarity, or curiosity?
Do we pause when something feels out of the ordinary, even if we don’t yet understand it?
This is the part of what makes travel and exploration so meaningful. To be constantly moving between what we know and what we are just beginning to see.
Read More From Nancy
A Chinese Tea Box
Among the many furnishings displayed in the historic Golden Ball Tavern in Weston, Massachusetts, this small Chinese tea box caught my attention. It tells a remarkable story about international trade, the value of tea, and the surprising connections between colonial New England and Asia. The box was crafted in China during a time when Chinese […]
Millmore’s Confederate Statue
Standing outside the Framingham History Center is a powerful piece of the town’s history: a Civil war memorial sculpture created by the noted nineteenth century artist Martin Millmore. Millmore, an Irish-born sculptor who became one of Massachusetts’ more prolific creators of war memorial, is known for honoring ordinary citizens who answered extraordinary calls to service. His works appear in communities across […]
Death Mask
In the Dedham History Museum, is this death mask. An intimate impression of a person’s face taken shortly after death. The practice of creating death masks has a long history. In ancient Egypt, masks were place with the dead, though they were often idealized. In ancient Rome, families preserved wax masks of ancestors as a way to honor lineage […]
