Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Connecticut West Hartford 'Conny The Whale'
AO Edited

'Conny The Whale'

Journey inside the bowels of this sperm whale sculpture.

West Hartford, Connecticut

Added By
Stephen Gale
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Walk around towards the front and on to the opposite side where you can enter it’s hollow inside.   babblefu / Atlas Obscura User
The two dinosaurs a few steps up the hill towards the museum entrance.   babblefu / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
The view of Conny from the parking lot side.   babblefu / Atlas Obscura User
From within the whale a small hole at the base of the jaw is a nice fit for a phone.   babblefu / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

On the former grounds of the Children's Museum, a few minutes off of Route 84 in West Hartford stands a life-sized, walk-in sculpture of a sperm whale—a fixture on the museum grounds for the better part of 40 years.

"Conny" (named after the state of Connecticut) is 60 feet in length and appears to be a solid statue. However, as visitors follow the walkway around the museum, they will find a trail that leads to a large entryway on the whale's body. The cavity inside Conny is large enough to fit nearly 10 people comfortably. It's not anatomical, so no suggestion of ribs or other internal components of a whale are visible. Conny is a delightful roadside attraction.

As of 2024, the West Hartford Children’s Museum has left this location but Conny fortunately lives on. When the museum location closed Conny was removed and cut in half. Her tail has been brought back and placed across the street standing tall in the green next to Trout Brook Trail.

Related Tags

Whales Outsider Art Design Roadside Attractions

Know Before You Go

Both the whale and the dinosaurs can be visited without entry into the museum. Parking is also free, so this site can be visited with no financial commitment. There is a reasonable admission fee to the actual museum. 

Community Contributors

Added By

babblefu

Edited By

maceeight, Collector of Experiences, cat6hurrcne

  • maceeight
  • Collector of Experiences
  • cat6hurrcne

Published

May 2, 2022

Updated

July 31, 2024

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://ctmirror.org/2023/04/12/ct-conny-the-whale-west-hartford-childrens-museum-statue-tail/
'Conny The Whale'
950 Trout Brook Dr
West Hartford, Connecticut, 06119
United States
41.762027, -72.736778
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Noah Webster Statue

West Hartford, Connecticut

miles away

A. Everett Austin Facade House

Hartford, Connecticut

miles away

Colonial America Tavern Signs Collection

Hartford, Connecticut

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of West Hartford

West Hartford

Connecticut

Places 2

Nearby Places

Noah Webster Statue

West Hartford, Connecticut

miles away

A. Everett Austin Facade House

Hartford, Connecticut

miles away

Colonial America Tavern Signs Collection

Hartford, Connecticut

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of West Hartford

West Hartford

Connecticut

Places 2

Related Places

  • Gummy bear statue

    Madrid, Spain

    El Oso Verde (The Green Bear)

    This larger-than-life lime green gummy bear sits in the middle of a roundabout in Spain.

  • Mound House, Nevada

    VW Beetle Spider

    On the side of Highway 50 East, between Carson City and Dayton, Nevada, sits a giant metal spider made from a vintage Volkswagen Beetle.

  • Bucket Fountain

    Wellington, New Zealand

    Bucket Fountain

    Referred to as "the crappiest fountain ever," this sculpture has been splashing unknowing passersby since 1969.

  • 'Highway of Dreams' 1932 Studebaker

    Holbrook, Arizona

    'Highway of Dreams' 1932 Studebaker

    This rusted car found in Petrified Forest National Park's Route 66 exhibit may be the most photographed abandoned car in the country.

  • What does the sign say?

    Canadian, Texas

    Gene Cockrell's Yard Art

    Iconic figures in concrete and steel in the High Plains of Texas.

  • World's Largest Souvenir Travel Plate

    Lucas, Kansas

    World's Largest Souvenir Travel Plate

    Kansas's Grassroots Art Capital welcomes visitors to Lucas through its very own World's Largest Thing.

  • Rainbow Sea Container

    Fremantle, Australia

    Rainbow Sea Container

    This work of public art symbolizes the maritime history and the modern creative industry in Fremantle.

  • Mr. Dixie

    Falls Church, Virginia

    'Mr. Dixie'

    This local mascot has been a presence in the area since the 1960s.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.