The Museum

The Eli Whitney Museum and Workshop was established in 1979 as a not-for-profit historic and educational organization. The Museum preserves the site on which Whitney constructed the first American factory in 1798.

An Historic Site

Factories are places of change. At least 18 buildings have come and gone since Eli Whitney's time. We are still digging into that history. Learn More...

Eli Whitney

On September 17th 1798, Eli Whitney purchased the land around the museum. He came here to build a factory. Learn about Whitney's life, his work, and his era...

The Gilbert Project

For 50 years, Alfred Carlton Gilbert put his signature on toys for children. He built a world of learning tools that were unified by a distinct, personal vision. No toymaker's name in history is better known. Learn More...

The Leonardo Challenge

Leonardo da Vinci demonstrated the origins of invention in the playful application of his imagination. The annual Leonardo Challenge engages artisans and artists in crafting stunning works of improvisational creativity. Explore the Challenges...

Permanent Installations

Learn More

Exhibitions

Though the Eli Whitney Museum and Workshop functions more as a workshop than as a conventional museum, it does feature 3 small exhibitions per year. View current and past exhibitions...