Rubber Ducky You're The One

Title: “Barduck Obama”

Date: January 13, 2012 “National Rubber Ducky Day”

Material: Rubber, Vinyl-Plastic, Acrylic Paint

Creator: Various Toy Makers/PTM Curatorial Department

Collection: Contemporary Toys

 “Barduck Obama” the Barack Obama duck is in “National Rubber Ducky Day” exhibit in the River Adventure exhibition at the Please Touch Museum.  It is the museum’s most popular exhibit ever.  The exhibit opened for National Rubber Ducky Day on January 13, 2012 and staff gave out rubber ducky souvenirs that day. The Obama duck is only one of five hundred thirty six rubber ducks on display.  The exhibit contains other famous ducks including Mr. T duck Elvis duck. Many of the toy ducks were purchased, but some were donated by two members of the Collectors Society for Rubber Duckies.  Museum staff members also donated some ducks.

Rubber Ducks became popular during the 1970’s when Ernie, a character on the popular kids show Sesame Place, sang about his ducky in the bathtub. The ducks are also a popular collectors’ item around the world and worldwide Rubber Duck derbies are held in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Rubber ducks are hugely popular and interest in the exhibit spans a wide margin.  Children love the duckies as well as collectors and several generations of Americans have seen Ernie sing the "Rubber Ducky" song on Sesame Street. Barduck Obama is of particular interest especially given that 2012 is an election year. 

I could imagine some visitors might not think that every duck in the display is appropriate.  There is a "Swat Duck" and "Dead Duck" that floats upside down. Some others may find it disrepectful to portray the president as a duck.

I disagree and think that the popularlity of the ducks could help experience guides and parents explain the election in a fun and understandable way for small children. I only wish there was a "Mitt Romduck" in the display as well.  The PTM could have a race of the two ducks  through the River Adventure exhibition on Election Day!