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Description
In 2024, the bald eagle was named the official national bird, a title held only by tradition since 1782. Learn to draw this majestic creature and explore its symbolism during a free, all-ages drawing workshop, “Icons of the Air: Symbols, Art, & the Great Eagle Debate,” as Connecticut-based illustrator and teaching artist Megan Jeffery brings her expertise and insight to the Pardee-Morris House on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at 2 p.m. For weather updates check our Facebook/Instagram pages or call 203-562-4183.
The special NH250 event offers a compelling blend of visual culture, hands-on creativity, and historical debate. Working with materials provided by Jeffery, the program will begin with an "Art History Hunt," where participants decode the presence of the American bald eagle across centuries of iconography, followed by a guided instructional session designed to help attendees capture the power and anatomy of this national symbol through their own sketches.
“I love history, and I love making art about it,” Jeffery says. “As a teaching artist, getting students of all ages from ‘I can’t draw!’ to ‘I can’t believe I drew that!’ is the best feeling.” She adds, “Any time I can turn a lesson from passive listening into active participation with a party-atmosphere, that makes the lesson even more memorable.”
In addition to gaining observational and drawing skills and the ability to self-express through the visual arts, visitors will determine for themselves what symbol best represents America today. Participants will have the chance to weigh the eagle against historic rivals—like Benjamin Franklin’s preferred wild turkey—or choose their own write-in candidates. Interactive polling will add a layer of modern democratic play to the day, culminating in a live reveal of the results at 3:30 p.m. to see if the eagle retains its crown or if a new "icon of the air" emerges.
New Haven Museum thanks community partner WSHU 91.1 FM for supporting the 2026 summer season.
About Megan Jeffery
Jeffery is a Connecticut-based illustrator, maker, and teaching artist who has dedicated her career to the intersection of visual storytelling and hands-on creativity. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in illustration, she studied under legendary illustrators Chris Van Allsburg and David Macaulay, an experience that helped shape her intricate and immersive approach to both 2D and 3D art. Her professional work spans the educational and editorial fields, having appeared in international curricula, books, and magazines, with a specialized focus on encouraging lifelong learning through fun, artistic content. As a teaching artist, she brings an infectious enthusiasm for "making" to audiences of all ages, from preschoolers to older adults. Her diverse instructional range includes everything from comics, drawing, and character design to puppet making, art journaling, and miniatures.
About NH250
This event is part of NH250, an ongoing series of programming developed by New Haven Museum to complement “America 250” and the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The series will highlight inclusive, local, and lesser-known stories, connecting past and present.
About the Pardee-Morris House
Located at 325 Lighthouse Road, in New Haven, the Pardee-Morris House dates from about 1780, and is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places. Built by Amos Morris around 1750, the house was burned by the British during their raid on New Haven in 1779 and rebuilt and expanded by the Morris family. In 1918, William S. Pardee, a descendant of the Morris family, willed the property to the New Haven Colony Historical Society, today the New Haven Museum. For a complete list of summer events at the Pardee-Morris House, visit: http://newhavenmuseum.org/visit/pardee-morris-house/ For New Haven Museum’s event calendar: http://newhavenmuseum.org/visit/events-calendar/ Sign up for e-blasts at info@newhavenmuseum.org.
About the New Haven Museum
The New Haven Museum, founded in 1862 as the New Haven Colony Historical Society, is located in downtown New Haven at 114 Whitney Avenue. The Museum collects, preserves and interprets the history and heritage of Greater New Haven and through its collections, exhibitions, programs and outreach brings more than 375 years of the Elm City’s history to life. For more information visit http://newhavenmuseum.org or @newhavenmuseum or call 203-562-4183.
Date & Time
Sun, Jul 12, 2026 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Venue Details
Pardee-Morris House
325 Lighthouse RoadNew Haven, Connecticut 06510
