Among the 3,000 historical objects in the Gloucester Museum of History on Main Street are 22 unique, handcrafted specimens of local origin. They are duck and goose decoys carved by William McKinley Smith.
In an exhibit titled “The Art of Carving: The Decoys of William McKinley Smith,” you can see the 22 decoys that comprise 12 kinds of waterfowl.
Smith lived in the Naxera area of Gloucester from 1897-1986. According to the exhibit, he was a Gloucester waterman and World War I veteran, not to mention an avid duck decoy carver.
The exhibit is full of interesting tidbits about Smith. For starters, he and his wife, the former Carrie Pearl West, had 17 children, 13 of whom lived to maturity.
Smith never had a driver’s license, opting to travel around his home by boat. His preferred carving wood was catawba or balsa wood. His granddaughter recalls how her granddad liked to sand and paint his decoys under an old pear tree.
The Gloucester Museum of History is in a two-story brick building, formerly known as the Botetourt Building, with a porch that spans the front of it.The building dates to 1770 and was once a tavern used by travelers conducting business at the nearby colonial courthouse, which also pre-dates the Revolutionary War.

The exhibit, which will be available through 2024, will showcase 25 duck decoys, hand carved and painted by local Gloucester legend, William McKinley Smith. The exhibit also includes remembrances and photographs of William McKinley Smith and serves as a tribute to his life and legacy. Each decoy is well over 60 years-old and features lifelike details that make it easy to identify the 12 difference duck species represented. | Photo courtesy of the Gloucester Museum of History.
Gloucester Museum of History | gloucesterva.gov/museum-of-history
The museum is at 6539 Main Street in Gloucester and is open from 11 am to 3 pm. Parking is free at the museum. The parking lot is on the corner of Main Street and Carriage Court.