Why you should experience Make Way for Ducklings in Boston, Massachusetts.
Make Way for Ducklings is a beloved bronze sculpture where Back Bay's literary heritage, family tradition, public art, and childhood imagination celebrate one of America's most cherished picture books.
Set within the Boston Public Garden along Charles Street near Beacon Street and just steps from the Swan Boats at Boston Public Garden, this life-sized procession of Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings invites visitors to walk beside Robert McCloskey's unforgettable characters through the very landscape that inspired one of the most influential works of children's literature ever published. Expressive bronze figures, intimate pathways, and surrounding Victorian gardens create a setting where generations of families have transformed a timeless story into a shared tradition. Seasonal decorations, children's interactions, and the enduring popularity of the sculpture reinforce its place within Boston's cultural identity. The result is an experience defined by literary legacy, artistic craftsmanship, and joyful public engagement.
What you should know about Make Way for Ducklings.
Make Way for Ducklings is best known for commemorating Robert McCloskey's 1941 Caldecott Medal-winning children's classic Make Way for Ducklings, which drew directly from observations of the Boston Public Garden and Boston Common to tell the story of Mrs. Mallard leading her eight ducklings through the city, becoming one of the most celebrated picture books in American literary history before inspiring sculptor Nancy Schön's life-sized bronze installation, unveiled on October 4, 1987, through a public-private partnership supported by the Friends of the Public Garden and civic leaders including First Lady Barbara Bush. McCloskey spent years sketching ducks within the Public Garden while researching the book, carefully studying their anatomy and movement before publishing a work whose detailed illustrations and authentic depiction of Boston earned the 1942 Caldecott Medal for distinguished American picture book illustration. Nancy Schön's sculpture faithfully recreates Mrs. Mallard followed by Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack, inviting physical interaction in keeping with the spirit of the story while becoming one of Boston's most photographed public artworks. The sculpture's international influence expanded in 1991 when an identical cast was presented by the United States to Moscow's Novodevichy Park as part of the Summit of Presidents George H. W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev, symbolizing friendship and cultural exchange between the two nations following the Cold War.
Children climb aboard the ducklings, readers recreate scenes from the book, and seasonal traditions frequently dress the sculptures with scarves, ribbons, and festive decorations that reflect celebrations throughout the year. Positioned within the exact landscape that inspired McCloskey's illustrations, the installation creates a rare union of literature, sculpture, and place that continues introducing new generations to one of America's defining children's stories. Artistic interpretation, literary history, and enduring civic affection collectively establish Make Way for Ducklings as one of Boston's most treasured works of public art.
How to fold Make Way for Ducklings into your trip.
Make Way for Ducklings is best experienced as part of a family-friendly exploration through Back Bay's celebrated historic landscapes.
Begin at Swan Boats at Boston Public Garden, where Boston's cherished boating tradition establishes the timeless atmosphere that inspired Robert McCloskey before continuing to Make Way for Ducklings. Continue across the Boston Public Garden Foot Bridge, whose elegant Victorian design frames many of the garden's most memorable views while connecting its winding pathways. Conclude at Boston Common, where the Mallard family's famous journey reaches its literary destination amid America's oldest public park. The progression moves naturally from beloved boating tradition to celebrated sculpture before concluding through the historic landscape that completed one of children's literature's most enduring adventures, revealing why Make Way for Ducklings remains one of Boston's most meaningful cultural experiences.
Where your story begins.
Start the planning journey with Foresyte Travel.
Experience immersive stories crafted for luxury travelers.
