Join us for the most unusual tour you'll ever take. DC Ducks is the newest, most exciting way to see Washington. Climb aboard an authentic, fully restored 1942 "Duck" and let the adventure begin! From Union Station we'll waddle down to the mall where you'll see the awe inspiring monuments and fabulous Smithsonian Museums. Then at the Potomac River you'll splash down for a whole different look at the nation's capital. From the land to the water, it's ALL IN THE SAME VEHICLE!

DC Ducks
Union Station - Washington D.C. 20018

Telephone: (202) 832-9800
Fax: (202) 832-9040

E-mail
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Copyright© 2000 Historic Tours of America, Inc. All rights reserved.
Our wise quacking captains will entertain you with anecdotes, well researched historical facts and the corniest jokes you've ever heard! Ducks depart hourly from Union Station. The 90 minute, fully narrated tour covers the mall, museums, monuments and splashing down in the Potomac. Guests will enjoy a scenic river cruise, wind up at Gravely Point, underneath the flight path of the landing planes at National Airport.

History of the Ducks Ducks come from DUKW, a military acronym that designated the vehicle as amphibious military personnel carriers. D Stands for the year it was designated, 1942; U for its amphibious nature; K for its all-wheel drive; and W for its dual rear axles.

DUKW's were created following the attack on Pearl Harbor as a means to transport supplies from ships to areas that did not have port facilities. DUKW's were first used operationally during the invasion of Sicily. Nearly 90% of all supplies came in by DUKW on the vital second and third days of the invasion. D-Day brought a force of 2000 DUKW's to the Normandy coasts. The fleet was an essential element in the strategic surprise of the enemy which assumed the Allies needed a port to make an effective landing. DUKW's are standard 2 1/2 ton GM trucks in a water-tight shell with an added propeller.

Considered to be one of the most successful amphibious vehicles ever made, there were ultimately over 21,000 produced by a work force consisting mainly of women working in the war effort. After the war, the Army left many of the craft in the towns and villages where they had operated, so the DUKW's can still be found in different countries around the world.