The Children’s Museum in West Hartford will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its iconic whale statue.

We-Ha.com file photo

Submitted

The Children’s Museum is holding a 40th birthday celebration for its iconic whale statue, Conny. Families and community members who helped build Conny are invited to the event, which will feature live music, fun and educational activities, giveaways and more.

The family-friendly celebration will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 25. The Museum will feature several special guests including the Cetacean Society International, Mystic Seaport, Don Sineti and Friends, the Connecticut River Ramblers, and Country 92.5.

Children of all ages can participate in fun activities, including classes on what it’s like to be a 19th century sailor or cobbler, animal demonstrations, arts and crafts, a special live planetarium show, and more. All activities are included with the price of general admission. Weather pending, some activities will be held outside.

The Museum has been counting down to Conny’s big birthday celebration for the past year, naming it the “Year of Conny.” In addition to creating special whale-themed public programs and distributing Conny Quarterly e-newsletters, the Museum has collected photos of mini-Conny replicas visiting sites all over the world. Visitors are encouraged to pick up a mini-Conny from the Museum and continue posting photos of Conny’s travels using the hashtag #YearofConny.

Conny the whale under construction at the Children’s Museum in 1975-76. Submitted photo

Conny (short for Connecticut) is a life-size sperm whale replica that adorns the front law of The Children’s Museum. Built in 1975-1976, Conny is the result of hundreds of hours of volunteer labor, generously donated materials, and a partnership with the Cetacean Society International. Conny has become the face of the Museum, an icon in the West Hartford community, and an example of what a dedicated group of local individuals can accomplish.

The Museum encourages original builders of Conny to attend the June 25 celebration where their hard work will be honored.

While he was originally built with the intention of fostering awareness for saving the whales and preserving ocean environments, Conny’s significance has expanded throughout the years. Conny continues to serve as an educational tool for children and the public at large, helping young students to learn about whales and mammals in general, oceanic science, and the region’s history in the whaling industry.

For more information on Conny’s 40th Birthday Celebration please contact Amy Kosciukiewicz at (860) 231-2830 ext. 480 or [email protected].

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