Great Humboldt Duck Race
You may have heard about the Great Humboldt Duck Race and wondered, “What on earth is that? Are they racing real ducks? What’s this all about?”
Northeastern Nevada Museum’s annual Duck Race is a summer-long fundraiser where folks adopt numbered rubber duckies, and at the end of July, thousands of ducks race down Angel Park Hill with the help of the City of Elko Fire Department. The first duck to cross the finish line wins $1,500! In 2021, Everything Elko sponsored the very first $250 Lame Duck Award for the last duck to make it down the hill.
Now you may be wondering, “Why does the Museum do this, and how did such an event get started?” The first Great Humboldt Duck Race was brought to Elko by local architect and Northeastern Nevada Museum exhibits coordinator Catherine Wines. She got the idea from other cities who hold similar events like the Chicago Ducky Derby and Freestore Foodbank Rubber Duck Regatta in Cincinnati, Ohio, the largest duck race in the United States.
For the first fifteen years, the event was held at the Humboldt River. The City of Elko Police Department would block off the 12th Street Bridge for a few minutes while a loader from Canyon Construction dumped the ducks from the bridge to the water below. Museum staff and young volunteers used rakes to guide the ducks and rescue them from willows on their journey to the 9th Street Bridge finish line. In 2021, NNM made the difficult decision to move the race from the river to Angel Park due to safety concerns for staff and volunteers.
Northeastern Nevada Museum is grateful for the support from the City of Elko Fire Department, who are generous with their time and equipment. Due to their participation, more and more families show up to watch the Duck Race at the hill every year. It is wonderful to see the kids come out and enjoy the experience.
The Duck Race wouldn’t be possible without our community members and Museum friends who adopt their ducks in support of the Museum’s free yearly programs and projects. Business sponsors kick off adoptions in spring. Five hundred dollars gets your business 200 ducks to be entered into the race, as well as advertising throughout the summer. In 2025, NNM is pleased to be sponsored by 4 Seasons Towing, Cavanaugh Business Centre, Coffee Mug, Elko Lions Club, His & Hers Automotive LLC, Brian Allman at Edward Jones, and Kaitlin McMullen at Edward Jones.
The Great Humboldt Duck Race is a fun event for Northeastern Nevada Museum and the community of Elko. The goal in keeping it going is to ensure that our free children’s programs are fully funded throughout the year. In the 2024 – 2025 academic year, the Museum saw over 4,000 school kids. Second Saturday is a free monthly children’s program from 10 a.m. to noon that all families can attend. Keep an eye out for the Night at the Museum films that happen a few times a year where families watch a movie in the Museum Theater then participate in a flashlight scavenger hunt throughout the galleries. Classic Films in the Park are at dusk on August 8 (Labyrinth) and 15 (Top Gun), so bring your lawn chairs, snacks, and bug spray to the City Park behind the Museum.
In 2024, Lynn Terras at Edward Jones was the big winner. She generously donated her prize back to Northeastern Nevada Museum. NNM is grateful to all those who help us keep the Great Humboldt Duck Race a successful summer event.
To adopt your ducks, stop into the Museum, call us at 745-738-3418, or mail us at 1515 Idaho Street, Elko, NV 89801.
*No actual ducks are harmed at the Great Humboldt Duck Race.