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New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, New Bedford

4.6
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National Park · Historic Site
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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.

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.

To visit New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park on your trip to New Bedford, use our New Bedford route website.
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New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
187 reviews
Google
4.7
TripAdvisor
  • You will love this place, but moreover you will love the tours outside on the streets with the rangers. The murals on the buildings are awesome and educational and even more so when they are... 
    You will love this place, but moreover you will love the tours outside on the streets with the rangers. The murals on the buildings are awesome and educational and even more so when they are...  more »
  • Great experience with numerous park and affiliated sites to visit. The visitor center has several unique artifacts from whaling ships, sailors, and the business. The park video is a good & engaging... 
    Great experience with numerous park and affiliated sites to visit. The visitor center has several unique artifacts from whaling ships, sailors, and the business. The park video is a good & engaging...  more »
Google
  • It was exciting. We love New Bedford for it's historical downtown to it's restaurants and beautiful old homes. My daughter lives there with her children and husband. It's a family vacation spot. 🙂
  • This museum has a lot to offer for its viewers. It's gallery hosts a large collection of whaling related information and artwork. There are life sized whale models, as well as a miniature whaling boat. One of the museum hosts was a Captain in the past and he was kind enough to explain to us a lot of information. Has Japanese, Azorean, and many more whaling related pieces. As well as a section dedicated to slave labor and African American and Native contributions.

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