As of yesterday, despite petitions begging for him to stay just a while longer, the Pittsburgh Rubber Duck is gone - towed away to be stored for potential future uses, the Cultural Trust has teased.
He will be sorely missed. Seeing a Rubber Duck splashing in the river made many, many locals and even some out of towners very happy. Children laughed, adults smiled, and business boomed: lots of business owners said that every day the Duck was here was like the Pittsburgh Regatta was in town. Every day! Food sold out in every restaurant, duck related merchandise flew off the shelves, and local downtown museums saw a massive increase in the number of visitors they usually get this time of year.
It was amazing to see just how many people visited downtown and how lively it became. It's hard to say which was bigger: the waves of happiness rolling throughout the Point while this Duck floated happily nearby, or economic boom downtown created by the duck's presence.
Either way, the Duck made quite a splash while it was here. and I hope one day we'll get the chance to see this simply marvelous piece of work in the rivers again!