Roadside architecture and visitor center

The Big Duck

2.8 road mi · about 6 min

A 1931 duck-shaped roadside shop and visitor center in Flanders, about 2.8 road miles from the Railroad Museum of Long Island’s Riverhead site.

The place

About The Big Duck

Martin and Jeule Maurer commissioned the Big Duck in 1931 as an eye-catching roadside shop for ducks raised on their farm. Carpenter George Reeve and stage-set designers William and Samuel Collins helped turn a bird model into a wood-frame, wire-mesh, and cement building. Suffolk County’s official history gives its dimensions as about 30 feet from beak to tail, 15 feet wide, and 20 feet high, with Model T taillights originally used for its eyes.

The building became more influential than an ordinary roadside novelty. Architects Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown used the term “duck” for highly sculptural buildings whose form communicates the product or purpose, in contrast with a plain “decorated shed.” The county now operates the small interior as a visitor-information and souvenir store and lists the landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.

This is a brief but memorable driving stop, not a multi-hour museum and not a walk from downtown Riverhead. The grounds can still provide an exterior view when the store is closed. The county publishes regular store hours but explicitly tells visitors to call before the trip, so this guide preserves that caution instead of presenting an open door as guaranteed.

What stands out

Roadside “duck” architecture

See the landmark that gave architectural criticism a memorable term for a building shaped like its message.

1931 construction story

Connect Long Island duck farming, roadside commerce, stagecraft, and vernacular building methods.

Tiny visitor store

If open, step inside the building for duck souvenirs and regional visitor information.

A short local detour

Add an unmistakably Long Island landmark without displacing the rail museum or aquarium as the day’s substantive attractions.

Pair it with the train

Why it belongs in a Railroad Museum of Long Island trip

The measured road route from 416 Griffing Avenue to 1012 NY-24 is about 2.8 miles and six normal driving minutes. It is not presented as a pedestrian route; protect extra time for Route 24 traffic, the turn, parking, and the return to Riverhead.

Before you go

Plan your visit

  • Published store hoursSuffolk County lists seven days a week, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., but specifically asks visitors to call 631-852-3232 to confirm before visiting.
  • Grounds versus storeAn exterior look and photograph do not require the souvenir store to be open. Treat interior access and current merchandise as selected-day details.
  • AdmissionThe official page does not publish a general admission fee. A special event can have its own arrangements; confirm rather than inferring.
  • Getting thereDrive Route 24 from Riverhead. This guide does not recommend walking along the road from the rail museum.
  • AccessibilityThe county page does not provide enough route-level detail for a guarantee. The interior is compact; call 631-852-3232 about parking, entrance clearance, restroom access, or another need.
  • Visit lengthAllow about 20–45 minutes for an exterior look, photographs, and the small store if open. Add time only for a scheduled special event.
  • Holiday lightingThe county says the annual lighting is held the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving. Wait for a current dated event notice before treating a time as confirmed.

Return to downtown Riverhead

Add Long Island Aquarium

Choose the aquarium when the day needs a longer indoor family destination.

View the guide →

Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

Can I go inside the Big Duck?

The county operates a small visitor-information and souvenir store inside, but it asks visitors to call 631-852-3232 to confirm current store hours.

How far is it from the rail museum?

The measured driving route is about 2.8 miles, normally around six minutes before traffic or parking. It is not a recommended walk.

Why is it called “duck” architecture?

Venturi and Scott Brown used “duck” for a sculptural building whose form conveys its product or purpose; the Big Duck became the best-known example.

Is there an admission fee?

The official county visitor page does not publish a general admission fee. Confirm special-event arrangements separately.

Is the store open every day?

The county publishes daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m. hours but still explicitly says to call and confirm before visiting.

When is the holiday lighting?

The county identifies the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving as the annual tradition. Use the current dated event notice for the actual time and program.

Trust and accuracy

Sources

Source checked 2026-08-14. This free guide has not yet been confirmed by the venue. Current hours, prices, services, and accessibility can change; confirm time-sensitive details directly.