New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park (NBWNHP) is a United States National Historical Park in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and is maintained by the National Park Service (NPS). The park commemorates the heritage of the world's preeminent whaling port during the nineteenth century.To visit New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park on your trip to New Bedford, use our New Bedford route website.
Established in 1996, the park encompasses 34 acres (fourteen hectares) dispersed over thirteen city blocks. It includes a visitor center, the New Bedford National Historic Landmark District, the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the Seamen's Bethel, the schooner Ernestina, and the Rotch–Jones–Duff House and Garden Museum.
As a National Park, the NBWNHP is rather unusual in that the only properties owned by the NPS are the Visitor Center and the Corson Maritime Learning Center. Rather, the park is a historic district administered under a partnership between the NPS, the City of New Bedford and private building owners to preserve the historic landscapes, structures, and collections and promote research and educational programming associated with the history of whaling. The enabling legislation also established a formal affiliation with the Iñupiat Heritage Center in Utqiaġvik, Alaska, to commemorate the more than 2,000 whaling voyages from New Bedford to the Western Arctic. The city promotes visitation to the park through advertising that calls it "New England's real seaport", as opposed to Connecticut's Mystic Seaport Museum which is a collection of historic buildings and vessels moved from various other locations throughout the region.
Although the famed Whaleman Memorial (commonly called the "Whaleman's Statue") is not within the park's boundaries, it is located only two blocks beyond its western boundary at the corner of William and Pleasant Streets in front of the New Bedford Public Library.
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New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park reviews
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New Bedford Folk Festival held here every July for two days. The 25th Anniversary year is 2022. I have attended all but two of the festivals. There are seven outdoor venues and two air conditioned...
New Bedford Folk Festival held here every July for two days. The 25th Anniversary year is 2022. I have attended all but two of the festivals. There are seven outdoor venues and two air conditioned... more »
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Good to see the national park in action and doing well. The employees were friendly and competent. The movie is worth the time as is a visit to the Seamen's Bethel, and the Rotch House up the hill...
Good to see the national park in action and doing well. The employees were friendly and competent. The movie is worth the time as is a visit to the Seamen's Bethel, and the Rotch House up the hill... more »
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I have visited this place for the first time and found it extremely informative and interesting. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The fact that they offer walking tours that are free is extremely helpful. They also offer special services and space for creative services. I would highly recommend that you stop by and learn more about the early history of this country. Thumbs up and keep up the great job. The history behind the place is very important and interesting.
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Very nice Supermarket for the area. Clean well organized and very well laid out. The employees are very friendly and very attentive. Deli was spotless as is the meat and seafood department very well maintained. I was very impressed. Cashiers know everybody!
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