Posted on 11/24/2025 9:14:43 AM PST by jerod
Museum in Point Roberts features 'culturally significant' rubber ducks, with one more than 100 years old
A rubber duck museum based in Point Roberts, U.S.A., is set to move to B.C.’s Tsawwassen Mills mall next month as owners say business has become unsustainable due to increasing tariffs and decreasing tourism.
The new location will only be about a 15-minute drive away from the current space — not even six kilometres as the crow flies — but an international border will separate the two.
Point Roberts, an American exclave of just over 1,000 people, is connected by land to Canada but is separated from the rest of the U.S. by water.
When the Rubber Duck Museum opened about 1½ years ago in the Point Roberts gift shop owned by Americans Neil and Krystal King, the couple said the shop had lines going out the door.
“Border guards were telling us that, you know, it seemed like every other person was coming in saying they were here for the Rubber Duck Museum,” Krystal told CBC’s The Early Edition.
The museum features about 30 “historically or culturally significant” rubber ducks, according to Krystal.
Their earliest duck, a German-manufactured pull-toy on wheels, dates back to 1911.
“We have them from all over the world, and it’s really been a lot of fun,” she said.
The displays delve into the history of various rubber ducks, from the 1950s “Mr. Squawker” that squawks when squeezed, to a Soviet-era vinyl duck, to a print of the 1949 “Peter Ganine rubber duck patent,” which the museum says is considered the first patent for the modern rubber duck.
The museum has up to 3,000 ducks for sale, and Neil said as business grew, about 70 per cent of the gift shop’s sales became rubber duck museum merchandise.
But sales plummeted when political tensions ramped up last year after the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, along with his rumblings of annexing Canada as the “51st state.”
In October this year, the volume of southbound trips at several major B.C.-Wash. crossings had decreased by 26 per cent year over year, according to data compiled by the Whatcom Council of Governments in Washington.
The number of Canadian-resident return trips from the U.S. was down by more than 30 per cent year over year in September, according to Statistics Canada.
Krystal said museum regulars have called in apologizing for not visiting.
“They were saying, ‘We love you guys, and we’re so sorry this is going to affect you personally, but we can’t come down right now. We’ll see you in four years.’”
Neil said the drop in border crossings has directly translated to a drop in sales. He said the shop has seen a 60 per cent decrease in sales and revenue.
And tariffs on Chinese goods have made the museum’s business model unsustainable.
“Every month it was coming back with, like, ‘Here’s a 30 per cent tariff charge, here’s a 70 per cent tariff charge,” Neil said.
Krystal said it was a tough choice to move the museum to Canada, as she and her husband have planted community roots in Point Roberts.
But the Kings are excited to be opening in Tsawwassen Mills.
“We love Canada, we love the culture, we love the people. And so once we realized it was either, you know, that or shutting down, it was a very easy decision.”
The couple said they won’t be working at the new location until they sort out their visas.
But Neil added the new museum in Canada will show off even more duck artifacts.
“We’re just going to be diving more into rubber ducks … just a visual assault of the senses, just beautiful rubber ducks everywhere.”
|
Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
“culturally significant’ rubber ducks”
-
significant to whom?.....I can only imagine the type of people that would patronize such a place.
Having owned a Jeep Wrangler for the past 6 years I can assure you, if I never see another rubber duck again in my lifetime it’ll be too soon.
Culturally significant Rubber Ducks.
You mean like Donald, Daisy, Daffy, Disco?
Oh, Floater Ducks!
That’s got to be a Museum for the Birds!
One guess on their Ring Tone for the company phone.
Those types of people have moved having a Jeep into the Subaru category.
Every Jeep I see makes me hate rubber ducks.
Canadian Indians (Dot not feather) will love it!!!
Been there. Check it out on the map. Cheaper to just give the place to Canada. Border guards are not cheap.
Could it be that it bores Americans to tears?
I quacked up laughing when I read about this.
‘We will now read from Matthew, Mark, Luke.....and DUCK.’
*BOOM*
Maybe adjust the border so Point Roberts is in Canada and we swap it for a couple of the smaller San Juan Islands.
Another sign of American decline! Next it will be the National Tailpipe Museum going to Mexico!!
It’s a way for one Jeeper to tell another one “nice Jeep”....but it’s now out of hand.
I’ve seen Jeeps with 30, 40 or more on the dashboard......kinda dumb IMO.
When I get one I just throw it in the center console.
I only have one on my dash and that’s only because of my wife......and it’s a Trump duck.👇
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/519JI5rBNiL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
But sales plummeted when political tensions ramped up last year after the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, along with his rumblings of annexing Canada as the “51st state.”
I love Point Roberts, a really cool exclave.
Mine says NO F—KING DUCKS on the windshield. When people ask me why I say they’re F—KING GAY and ASININE.
Most agree!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
