Summer Programs

Eli Whitney Museum

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Summer Programs for 2023

Week of June 12, 2023

Pottery, Painting, and the Poetry of Design

The Black Mountain College attracted artists, sculptors, musicians, dancers, thinkers, and poets from all over the globe. This week we invite you to learn from the work of the groundbreaking movement from 1933–1957 outside of Asheville, North Carolina.

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Week of June 20, 2023

Painting Along the Mill River

Please Note: This is a four day class- Tue, Wed, Thurs, Fri.
We are closed, Mon, June 19th.

The Mill River is a perfect site to emulate the thoughtful treatment of light, water, and atmosphere that the Hudson River School ...

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Week of June 20, 2023

The Art & Science of Fire

Please Note: This is a four day class- Tue, Wed, Thurs, Fri.
We are closed, Mon, June 19th.

In Greek mythology, civilization begins with Prometheus’ gift of fire. This workshop will introduce fire as we present every too...

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Week of June 26, 2023

A Pirate’s Life

The Pirate Code was a group of rules that all pirates had to follow aboard a ship. This was how things 'worked' and kept order among a group of possibly unruly pirates. Everyone had to sign it and live by it. Sounds like a good plan, no?

Join Ca...

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Week of June 26, 2023

The Art and Science of Light

Manipulating light and images is certainly fun and exciting. What is the science behind all the amusement and vibrance?

This week you will join us to unearth the ins and outs of light and its properties. Experiment with a giant life-size Camera...

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Week of July 3, 2023

Rainforests of the Sea

Please Note: This is a four day class- Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri.
We are closed on Tuesday July 4th.

Marine biology and ceramics converge this week to recreate the wonders of Coral Reefs around the world. The artwork o...

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Week of July 3, 2023

Automaton

Please Note: This is a four-day class- Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri.
We are closed, Tues, July 4th.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines an Automaton as 1. a mechanism that is relatively self-operating and 2. a mac...

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Week of July 10, 2023

Travels Through Latin America

Travel through South America — a journey of thousands of kilometers in one short week. Start your journey in Puerto Rico and then embrace the culture of Cuba. Cruise over to Central America where you will take a look at the traditio...

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Week of July 10, 2023

Our Site: History & Architecture

The legacy of the Museum begins in 1798 When Eli Whitney first chose a site on the Mill River to build his Armory. Chosen for its access to a strong current of water, Whitney intended to use this as a power source for the machines he would use to produ...

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Week of July 17, 2023

King Tut's Tomb at 100

On November 4, 1922 King Tutenkhamun’s tomb was discovered by Howard Carter and a team of archaeologists. One hundred years later the allure of King Tut remains as strong as ever.

King Tutankhamun became ruler of Egypt when he was nine years o...

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Week of July 17, 2023

The Aztecs

The Aztec present a fascinating and often misunderstood history and legacy. Even the name "Aztec" was derived from German explorer Alexander von Humboldt as he was describing the powerful Mesoamerican people who encountered the Spanish in 1519...

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Week of July 24, 2023

Presto! The Magician’s Secret

More than 100 years ago, A.C. Gilbert graduated from Yale. Rather than practice medicine, for which he trained, he practiced magic. He founded the Mysto Magic Company with John Petrie. Gilbert went on to build Erector Sets and other learning t...

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Week of July 24, 2023

The Queen of Hawaii

Queen Lili’u Loloku Walania Kamaka’eha, the first female leader of the Kalākaua dynasty, ruled a unified Hawaiian Kingdom until 1917. Queen Liliuokalani fought to keep Hawaii free from British and American conquestors. She was highly educated as w...

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Week of July 31, 2023

First Circuits

Humans have always recognized electricity in lightning bolts and fur that crackles when stroked. But the practical uses of electricity - circuits - have been discovered mostly from Eli Whitney's time to the present in simple experiments and creative ac...

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Week of July 31, 2023

Mapping Our World

At present a world without GPS is unfathomable.

Cartography has enriched the lives of explorers for centuries. This week you will be inspired by the beauty, versatility, and incomparable significance of maps. From Ancient Civilizations to the A...

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Week of August 7, 2023

Where the Wild Things Call Home

Architects in nature fashion honeycombs, lodges, hives, webs, and dens. They take on the intricate engineering of bird nests. Our forests are abundant with these constructions. From tiny to large creatures, builders of the oceans, woodlands, desserts, ...

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Week of August 7, 2023

Intro to Robotics

The world of robotics is much more than simply assembling parts. Experience what it's like firsthand to be a robotics engineer: customize your robot to accomplish specific tasks, troubleshoot mechanical issues, and even try your hand at programming an ...

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Week of August 14, 2023

My Castle

Some castles are also palaces with a noble family and royal staff. Some castles are forts defending the edge of a kingdom. Some castles are outposts that protect travelers and trading caravans. Some are beautiful. Some are simply practical.

Buil...

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Week of August 14, 2023

Spaceship Design

If you are like us you’ve definitely imagined hundreds of spaceships. This week you can translate your creations into reality. Join us to build your own spaceship and learn about the real-life spacecraft sent by humans to the edge of the Milky Way. <...

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