Museums don’t always have to be hands-off! One Sunday of the month, the Neill-Cochran House Museum opens its doors to feature hands-on activities, scavenger hunts, self-paced tours, and space to picnic in the shade.

Whirligigs are more common than we realize and are a part of the practical decorative art that was–and still is–part of the American Experience. We now think of home decor as something we buy, but it used to be something we made. And it’s a lot of fun to design and make these!

Whirligigs, pinwheels, and buzzers all share the common feature of having basic rotating parts. If you’ve ever seen a fidget spinner, you’ve seen a kind of whirligig! These objects served as keepsakes, toys, decoration, and in some cases even served as signage for businesses before literacy was as widespread as it is today.

This activity is free with museum admission and appropriate for all ages (adults included!), but children younger than 8 will likely need the help of an older child or an adult. This is a drop-in event; it is not necessary to arrive at 1:00pm nor stay until 4:00pm to enjoy the activity. Because this workshop involves paints and markers, we recommend wearing clothing that won’t mind a few stains and blotches.