Whaling Museum - New Bedford, Massachusetts

Explore the History of Whaling in New Bedford, MA

The Whaling Museum in New Bedford, MA is a fascinating attraction to visit on your trip to Boston, Cape Cod or Rhode Island. It is the biggest Whaling Museum in the United States. Art, manuscripts, ship models and artifacts are included in educational and intriguing exhibits at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford.

The Whaling Museum focuses on whaling from the late 18th through the early 20th centuries – the period when sailing ships dominated whaling and merchant trade. Whether you are interested in the age of sail, whaling, the history of New Bedford or America’s whaling ports in general, you’ll find a visit to the Whaling Museum fascinating.

There are many different types of exhibits to explore at the Whaling Museum. The Forecastle exhibit allows visitors to climb aboard a full-scale reproduction of a whaleship fo’c’sle – the forward section of a whaleship. Children as well as adults will enjoy hands-on experiences both above and below deck at the Forecastle exhibit.

You can also experience life on board a whaling ship by boarding the half-scale model of the whaling bark Lagoda at the Whaling Museum. This 89-foot model built in 1916 is exhibited with its sails set and gears rigged.

“From the Deep” is another popular exhibit at the Whaling Museum. Here you will see the skeleton of a 45-ton sperm whale found beached in Nantucket in 2002. A study of whale genetics and evolution is included in the exhibit, as well as details involved in skeletal articulation.

British whaling is explored in a special “British Paintings and Scrimshaw” exhibit at the Whaling Museum. You will see a huge variety of prints, paintings, ship’s journals (including illustrations) and scrimshaw featured in this exhibit. These artworks and manuscripts illustrate the trials and tribulations of the British Whaling industry.

There are several exhibits that focus on New Bedford’s history at the Whaling Museum. “Portraits of a Port: New Bedford Navigates the World” details the port’s history as an impressive and important maritime center. Artifacts and paintings from diverse sources including Native American, Portuguese, African-American and other communities are included in this fascinating exhibit.

A variety of other exhibits are on display at the Whaling Museum, and many special events are scheduled seasonally and annually. Educational programs, films, musical performances, lectures and other events are held at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford throughout the summer.