Icons of the Air: Symbols, Art, & the Great Eagle Debate

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.