Annual Appeal 2024

This year, your support has helped spark curiosity and creativity in thousands of young learners at the Eli Whitney Museum & Workshop.

Thanks to your generosity, we've put over 40,000 hands-on projects into the hands of children across Connecticut, fostering skills like problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation.

Project-based learning isn’t just about building—it’s about empowering kids to think critically, work together, and develop confidence that lasts a lifetime. Your generosity makes this possible, ensuring that no child is left out of this transformative experience. Please consider making a gift today to help us continue inspiring the next generation of thinkers and makers.

Thank you for believing in the power of curiosity and for helping us illuminate the magic of making.

Our $90,000 goal will fund:

Apprentice Fund (25%)

The Apprentice Fund supports training and development. The apprenticeship program is the core of all that we do at EWMW.

Scholarship Fund (50%)

The Scholarship Fund opens our doors to a wider community by offering scholarships, Title I funding support and always free admission.

Design Fund (10%)

The Design Fund enables our apprentices and staff to work together on vibrant new ideas for school and summer programs, and community partners.

Jack Viele Fund (15%)

The Jack Viele Fund expands our community of learners. Your support provides individualized assistance when needed, because we believe everyone is capable.

Every donation, no matter the size, helps us provide children with the tools to learn, grow, and thrive!

Holiday Train Show

Join us for the annual A.C. Gilbert Train Show display!

Saturdays and Sundays

10am to 3pm
through January 19

Operate trains through a 1920s model of New Haven, build your own train set, and enjoy our Erector free-build station!

This event is great for all ages, and admission is free. No reservation needed.

Special Hours:

December 23, 26, and 27 10am–4pm

December 24, 10am–1pm

Our office will be closed on 12/25 and 1/1.

Train Show Walk-in Projects

We're selling snowflake ornaments, seasonal trains, and other wonderful, wintery projects throughout the train display!

All snowflake sales support IRIS after-school programs. Decorate a snowflake and help us offer free programming for children in New Haven!
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A New Exhibit!

The Mill River may be in our backyard, but you've never seen it like this! In a unique and creative partnership with Seedlings Educators Collaborative, we helped design a twelve-foot map of the Mill River for their summer 2024 workshop.

Their educators used natural and recycled materials for this artistic interpretation of the riverbed and its shoreline, which will be displayed at the Eli Whitney Museum through the end of January. See what details you can spot on your next visit!
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Community Contribution

Little Free Library at Cedar Hill Playground

Team EWMW recently installed a Little Free Library at Cedar Hill Playground to replace an older model that had fallen into disrepair.

We are so excited to see this cheery little library (hand-painted by our talented apprentices) filled with books for local readers!