The History of Duck Decoys on the Delmarva Peninsula

The American History Series continues on Saturday, September 12, 1:00 pm, with a program about the history of duck decoys on the Delmarva Peninsula. Presented by renowned duck decoy carver Rich Smoker, the program will take place at the Milford Public Library in Milford, Delaware. Wooden wildfowl decoys were a common hunting tool on Delmarva. Carved and painted to lure wild birds into range for the hunters, these decoys had regional shapes, styles, and paint schemes that varied from the upper bay area to the lower shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Many of the decoys that were created on the Delmarva Peninsula are highly collectible as art.

Rich Smoker grew up on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania and developed an interest in waterfowl at an early age. In 1982 he moved to Maryland and became invested in the legacy of Lem and Steve Ward. Since then, he has carved thousands of birds and has also become an active carving teacher. In competition, Rich has won more than 500 ribbons, including more than 100 best in show titles. Among his many honors, Rich was named one of the Ward Foundation’s Living Legends in 2016 for his service to the Ward Museum and Foundation, and his commitment to teaching the craft and continuing the heritage of carving. He was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts, National Heritage Fellowship in 2019.

Co-sponsored by the Milford Museum and the Milford Public Library, these monthly programs focus on a variety of topics concerning local, state, and national history. These presentations are held on the second Saturday of each month, at 1:00 p.m., in the Milford Public Library. The library is located at 11 S.E. Front Street in Milford, Delaware. For more information, please contact the Museum at (302) 424-1080, tom@milforddemuseum.org. These programs are offered through a generous grant from The Delaware Heritage Commission.