Development and Culture in Boston

A mallard on the reflective Public Garden pond

People of all ages and cultures enjoy the ducklings

The story of the ducklings has grown with the expansion of Boston. In the time between the release of the book and the installation of the statue, the Museum of Science opened, the Prudential Building was built, and Copley Square was remodeled. Make Way for Ducklings became a household story during the development of now iconic Boston sites. The result is that the ducklings have created a correlation with the progress of the city and the city becoming a livable and prosperous place. Despite the rapid evolution of the city and its people, the ducklings serve as a reminder of the homely quality that Boston provides for many. The intersections of different people and cultures have converged at the ducklings for years, regardless of the development of the city. As people gather at the ducklings to reminisce about childhood or to admire their quaint character, they add to the greater story of Boston and its history.

Fun fact: Oddly enough, there’s a replica of the Make Way for Ducklings statue located in Moscow’s Novodevichy Park. In 1991, Barbara Bush gifted it to Raisa Gorbachev as part of the START Treaty between the United States and the USSR. Regardless of being placed in two distinct cities, the duckling statues both attract visitors near and far.

The Public Garden is whimsical. Its narrow, winding paths are those found in fairytales. Weeping willows sweeping over park benches, swan boats gliding over the pond, and meticulously kept grass all contribute to the picturesque landscape. It’s easy to forget you’re even in the city until the sound of traffic erupts or even less obvious, one sees the reflection of city buildings in the pond. The ducklings accommodate this feeling by serving as another location of merriment. As Boston continues to develop, the ducklings statue and the Public Garden survive with certainty, giving their varied visitors a feeling of assurance in an ever-changing city. While experiencing the ducklings statue, one may not notice the layers of culture, time, and history that it contains. But by zooming out and viewing the ducklings in the context of the Public Garden and its surrounding areas, it’s apparent that the iconic ducklings contribute culture and history to the palimpsestic nature of Boston.