Love this place! Great fun and educational for any age. Ive been going since I was a kid and its just as good now as then. Donation style admission with pay to build mini projects available. Can spend 1/2 to 2 hours comfortably with kids in tow. Highlight is the Gilbert train setup for holidays.

Perfect place for spring migrating warblers! Plenty friendly birders to help you spot and identify. The trails are always nicely maintained.

Beautiful place ️

Fun and unique, must check out at least once especially during the fall season during the train table. Nice outdoor area as well for hiking and chilling.

Nice quiet, and peaceful trails. Only 3/4 of a mile but its a very nice quick hike with historical scenery. And a great little museum for children!

Beautiful area for a walk. The Mill River, which flows through the Whitney Armory site is on its way to Long Island Sound, has played a crucial role in its history. Eli Whitney, Sr. came to the site in 1798 specifically in order to use the waters power for running machinery; sixty-two years later his son turned the river into the first public water supply for the city of New Haven. For some decades thereafter, the river continued to provide power not only for the Armorys machinery, but also for pumping its own water into the network of pipes reaching New Havens buildings and hydrants. Eventually it gave way, as a power source, to steam engines and electric motors, but it continues to this day to supply water for the city.The low dam and waterwheels that Eli Whitney, Sr. installed made possible the Whitney Armory with its adjacent small settlement, Whitneyville. Like many another New England water-privilege site, but unlike the larger planned waterpower complexes such as Lowell or Holyoke in Massachusetts, the community remained of modest size. Constrained in large part by the natural limits on its water power, Whitneyville did not grow into an industrial city, but led him first in the 1840s to replace the waterwheels with hydraulic turbines, the latest advance in waterpower technology, and then to make the dam five times higher in 1860. The other purpose of this move - to form Lake Whitney as the as the first reservoir for the New Haven Water Company - was what paid for the construction of the dam we see at the site today. The creation of Lake Whitney in turn prevented further industrial development at waterpower sites upstream - by flooding them - thus leaving the Armory as southern Hamdens only industrial site until a later era.

Im rating the grounds, not the museum itself as Ive never actually been inside, nor have I seen it open. This is a beautiful place to go if youre looking for a nice place to walk! Just behind the museum the trail begins inside of an old covered bride that crosses a small river. There is a huge waterfall, a serene lake you can fish in or walk across using a small bridge that connects one side to the other. Despite being directly on Whitney Avenue its pretty quiet and gives you the feeling of being tucked away in the woods somewhere. The grounds sit at the base of East Rock so you can easily hike up from the museum to the summit. Ive never been able to find any trail markings so youve got to sort that out on your own, but its doable.

Went with a 4th grade group. Andrew was our host and he was amazing! So knowledgeable the kids were so excited and hung on his every word. They made cars it was so much fun! Bring your kids on the weekends they will love it!

My son went on a field trip here where I was a chaperone. We didnt tour it but had fun learning about the life cycle of a butterfly and making a cool craft.

Went here for a separate fundraising event, but was really impressed with the interactive options they offered for families.

Great trails around the museum. The train set was terrific.

I didnt go in the museum but the waterfall was attractive

I have been here both to learn the details of Eli Whitneys life and for the annual Christmas holiday model train display. The train display is interactive. Long time New Haven area residents will take particular joy in picking out the miniatures of old New Haven landmarks. All the model trains are vintage A.C. Gilbert made right in New Haven.

Very nice. Didnt realize all of Eli Whitneys accomplishments. Very impressive. Young girl in the museum was very helpful. The was an older gentleman that worked there scolding the young woman that worked there no apparent reason. Other than that it was a nice experience.

Visiting the museum was a fun, free outing for my three year old on a rainy day. The museum is small and maintains the authentic charm of an historical building. Im looking forward to visiting again for my daughter to take part in their variety of experiments and activities.

Beautiful New England!

It was a great hands on experience for the children. They also had a great tome.Staff very friendly and helpful.

Amazing little community-based conservatory of sorts. Would definitely stop and take the time to get out of the car and enjoy what nature is all about here.

My son had a great time on his kindergarten class trip, We will be returning soon.

Its a really nice park. There was a lot of people taking photos of birds.

Took a group of students here...it was fun making the birdhouses and learning a bit of history

I love this place! The children enjoy the projects that are put fourth. There is something there for kids of all ages. I would strongly recommend going there any time of year.

School Kids Teaching Museum, nice but not really setup for viewing

This is a great place for kids to have fun and explore their inventor side. I sent my son here for just a week of their summer camp and he loved it. Will be coming back next summer.

I cant tell you how grateful I am, my kids and I spent many happy years at the museum volunteering. Its a wonderful place that has so much to offer. The museum is a celebration of childhood. Kids are important here. Kids play, invent and explore the world in an environment that nurtures creativity. Its magical. I love the exhibits, art contests, summer camps and walk in activities. Visit this historical wonderland.

Free, worth a look. Great for walks to the waterfall too!

Interesting and educational I learned a lot

Activitys for kids at the museum and hiking trails that are short and shaded well

Small place. Love the water feature in the summer and train set in the winter. Beautiful trail in the back. My daughter enjoy summer camp here working on different project.

Great learning experience. Take your children there for the workshops.

Nice place..like an urban garden;quiet and peaceful.

That waterfall view is amazing. I havent been on the trail tho cuz im scared of ticks but i see people jogging into and out of it so idk -kanye shrug-

Never disappoints, Eli Whitney Museum has excellent programs for artistic expression, making, inventiveness and learning...!

Very nice and beautiful place, jogging course!

Loved it really cool train set on the inside shows the history of Connecticut in a vibrant way and the grounds are absolutely beautiful to walk on will be back

Catch the train exhibit until mid February... my 4 year old grandson had a blast driving the train.

Really great place for kids to hang out and educate also have fun outdoor workshop.

Great place to go for a walk or a run

Love this place!!! Great running trails

Great place for kids

So peaceful, relaxing, and exciting!

Great history here and in such a beautiful setting

Very nice place to take the kids on a rainy afternoon.

Great place for childrens programs.

Great place for Birding this time of year

Excellent place to bring a child on a rain day. The young people working there were great.

The kids enjoyed learning about the solar system

Great summer camp for kids

Its fun for kids 5 to about 10 or 11. Nice area outside to walk or take a short hike.

Such a unique and cool place to visit. Our son LOVED the train and the crafts projects!

Beautiful outside and in. Love the area...cool shops and restaurants in area.

The staff there are so friendly and helpful. The atmosphere is inviting and it triggers a curious spark in the minds of my kids. They love it there.

Nice and fun place also educational

It never gets old

Fun for the kids. We took a nice walk outside.

So much to see and do!

Make sure to visit the back of the museum, the water fall view is incredible

I work there and it is a wonderful place.

Great couple of times visit. Then its all the same.Lovely staff and nice outdoors walk

My grandchildren enjoy coming to Connecticut to visit Aunt & Uncle and going to make something awesome to take back home to PA from the museum.

Love to hike here or sit by waterfall museum is fun for kids

Friendly staff, great setting with rich learning.

They have great activities for your children!

Such a wonderful place. Will be back

The wood working shop was great for the Cub Scouts

Its the coolest park to get lost in

A great place to learn and build wood projects for all ages.

Our 3 year old really enjoyed the trains

This is one of my favorite places in the world the staff is aso friendly and they do such great projects with camers and walk-ins

The kids LOVED it (and so did I)

Very cool! Did a project with Jacob and it was great

Good

The museum is basically run by children. They are not trained, give wrong membership information and the few adult staff members they have are rude. Lindsey is VERY rude and Sally the owner excuses her behavior by saying she is not rude, its just her demeanor. My son was injured and the child helping us could not find a bandaid or an adult. Untrained, unorganized, RUDE and unsafe enviroment. We will not be back.

Awesome place for quick educational kids trip!!!

Wonderful mother nature, family friendly museum.

Awesome for kids to explore and learn!

Great place for a trek in the woods.

Very nice

Amazing place with interactive displays and activities.

Very disappointing. We thought it was an actual museum highlighting and displaying Eli Whitneys inventions, but it turned out to be just a kiddie playhouse.

Crafts and a good walk

Dont ever come on a field trip here you pay money for an hour and the staff talk so much

Unbelievable creativity!

Hidden gem.

Love it

Grate time

Informative and fun

Awesome

Great camp

A lot to see and experience

Good for kids

Love this place

There are too many invasive plant species on the premises!

The workshops are excellent