More than just a squeezable toy that makes a squeaking sound, the rubber duck is an American invention with a surprisingly rich history.
The cute, often bright-yellow toys have enjoyed renewed popularity in recent years, appearing in tourist shops at destinations ranging from the US Open to Buckingham Palace. They have also won the hearts of people around the world.
According to popular lore, the rubber duck's story began with Charles Goodyear, the inventor of vulcanized rubber. He is said to have turned leftover rubber into a duck-shaped toy for dogs to chew on and babies to use as a teething aid. The legacy continues in Ohio, where a minor-league baseball team bears the name Akron RubberDucks.
Vulcanization made rubber waterproof and highly durable, but the material was also heavy. In 1931, Elenore Shannahan redesigned the toy to make it float, transforming it into a popular companion for bath time.
Her patent described a toy that could create a fountain-like effect and allow people to play pranks by spraying a fine stream of water onto another person's face or body.
The Walt Disney Co. and Seiberling Latex Products helped popularise the toy internationally in 1938 by producing a floating Donald Duck water toy. According to the St. Neots Museum, the vinyl duck familiar today originated with a 1947 design by sculptor Peter Ganine.
When the rubber duck was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame, the institution highlighted its developmental benefits for young children, noting that its bright colour, smooth texture and, in some cases, squeaking or quacking sounds help stimulate toddlers' senses.
The humble bath toy has also made its mark on the music industry. "Rubber Duckie" reached No. 16 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart in the magazine's Sept. 26, 1970, issue. The song also earned Jim Henson, who voiced Ernie on "Sesame Street," his first Grammy nomination, according to the Grammy Awards website.
The rubber duck later became an unexpected tool for scientific research. In 1992, a shipping accident sent 29,000 plastic bath toys, including rubber ducks, into the North Pacific Ocean, creating a widespread pollution problem and an unusual opportunity for oceanographers.
Allison Boyle of London's Science Museum said on its website that oceanographers Curtis Ebbesmeyer and James Ingraham relied on reports from beachcombers to track the toys' movements around the world. Their work helped scientists monitor plastic debris and improve models of ocean-surface currents.
"Even the cutest of children's toys plays a role in ocean health," said Rachel Schoeler, manager of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup website.
From its early days as a chew toy to its rise as a bath-time favourite, musical inspiration and scientific research tool, the rubber duck has left its mark on American history and beyond.