Discover New Bedford, MA: The Historical City That Illuminated the World

New Bedford, Massachusetts, is New England’s best place to explore whaling history. Known as “The City that Lit the World” due to its whale oil production, it inspired Herman Melville’s masterpiece, Moby-Dick, and was home to 500 whaling ships during its 19th-century peak.

With the nation’s largest institution dedicated to the whaling industry, the New Bedford Whaling Museum, and the 13-block New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, established in 1996, New Bedford is a captivating destination for both its rich past and its 20th-century revival as America’s most profitable commercial fishing port.

These visuals from New Bedford will introduce you to the Whaling City’s sights and the thrilling pursuit that made this deep port city one of America’s wealthiest and most diverse locations by the 1850s.

1. Visitor Center

Kick off your visit to New Bedford at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Visitor Center, located at the intersection of William and Second Streets. Here, visitors can obtain brochures and maps, as well as details about seasonal guided tours.

2. New Bedford Custom House

Constructed in 1836, New Bedford’s Greek Revival Custom House on Second Street is the oldest continuously operating custom house in the United States. Today, it plays a vital role in the city’s commercial fishery rather than focusing on whaling activities.

3. A Whale of a Museum

The New Bedford Whaling Museum is the largest whaling museum in America and serves as the city’s flagship attraction. The museum houses a diverse collection of whaling artifacts, including over 7,500 paintings and prints, 180,000 photographs, 3,000 scrimshaw works, 6,000 decorative arts items, and numerous maps and logbooks.

4. Lagoda Whaling Ship

The museum also features the world’s largest ship model. Visitors can board the half-scale replica of the whaling bark Lagoda to experience the lives of whaling crew members at sea as they hunted these magnificent animals.

5. New Bedford Harbor

From the roof of the New Bedford Whaling Museum, visitors can enjoy views of the harbor, once home to 500 whaling vessels. However, by 1925, the last whaling ship had departed from this deep and sheltered harbor.

6. Fishing Boats in New Bedford

Today, New Bedford proudly retains its title as America’s top fishing port. The harbor now showcases fishing boats and scallop draggers, continuing its legacy as a vital hub of maritime activity.