Gertie the Duck (Gillen)
Encyclopedia
Gertie the Duck is a public artwork by American
artist Gwendolyn Gillen, located on the Wisconsin Avenue bridge, which is in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, United States
. It is a 4-foot tall bronze statue of a mallard duck, which was installed on the Wisconsin Avenue bridge in September of 1997.
, the Symbol of Hope, was a mallard duck that lived under the Wisconsin Avenue bridge during World War II. During this time, people only heard depressing news about the war and the lives lost. Gertie the Duck was thought to be the Symbol of Hope because while all this devastation was going on in the world, she was attending to her nest of unhatched chicks. This reminded people of the preciousness and fragility of life. Gertie became an instant local and international sensation. She was photographed by the Milwaukee Journal, featured in Life Magazine, and even had a front page story in a London
paper. People were very compassionate towards the mallard and even postponed a replacement job on the bridge where she lived. When a careless smoker accidentally set fire to her nest, the Humane Society
hired a guard to protect Gertie. She even received letters and poems on Mother's day. Eventually, Gertie and her young chicks had to relocate. They were relocated to Juneau Park on a fire engine that was escorted by a marching band. It is estimated that about three million people came to Milwaukee to see Gertie and her ducklings.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artist Gwendolyn Gillen, located on the Wisconsin Avenue bridge, which is in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is a 4-foot tall bronze statue of a mallard duck, which was installed on the Wisconsin Avenue bridge in September of 1997.
Description
Gertie the Duck is a bronze statue of a mallard duck created by sculptor Gwendolyn Gillen. The original cost of the sculpture was $15,000, and it was given to the city by the Eppstein Uhen Architects firm and installed in September of 1997.Historical information
Gertie the DuckGertie the Duck
Gertie the Duck is a world famous mallard and an icon of Milwaukee history. The story of her heroic efforts to hatch six ducklings became an inspiration for many Americans near the end of World War II...
, the Symbol of Hope, was a mallard duck that lived under the Wisconsin Avenue bridge during World War II. During this time, people only heard depressing news about the war and the lives lost. Gertie the Duck was thought to be the Symbol of Hope because while all this devastation was going on in the world, she was attending to her nest of unhatched chicks. This reminded people of the preciousness and fragility of life. Gertie became an instant local and international sensation. She was photographed by the Milwaukee Journal, featured in Life Magazine, and even had a front page story in a London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
paper. People were very compassionate towards the mallard and even postponed a replacement job on the bridge where she lived. When a careless smoker accidentally set fire to her nest, the Humane Society
Humane Society
A humane society may be a group that aims to stop human or animal suffering due to cruelty or other reasons, although in many countries, it is now used mostly for societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals...
hired a guard to protect Gertie. She even received letters and poems on Mother's day. Eventually, Gertie and her young chicks had to relocate. They were relocated to Juneau Park on a fire engine that was escorted by a marching band. It is estimated that about three million people came to Milwaukee to see Gertie and her ducklings.