Sunday Fundays: Whirligigs

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. Free for all ages with museum admission, stop by the inaugural event on January 12 to make your very own whirligig!

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.