Sights in New Bedford
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New Bedford Whaling Museum
A 66ft skeleton of a blue whale and a smaller skeleton of a sperm whale welcome you to the New Bedford Whaling Museum. This excellent, hands-on museum occupies seven buildings situated between William and Union Sts. To learn what whaling was all about, you need only tramp the decks of the Lagoda, a fully rigged, half-size replica of an actual whaling bark. The onboard tryworks (a brick furnace where try-pots are placed) converted huge chunks of whale blubber into valuable oil. Old photographs and a 22-minute video of an actual whale chase bring this historic period to life. Exhibits of delicate scrimshaw, and the carving of whalebone into jewelry, knick-knacks and beautif…
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Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum
New Bedford’s grandest historic house was designed in Greek revival style by Richard Upjohn (1802–78), first president of the American Institute of Architects. Occupying an entire city block, it was built for whaling merchant William Rotch Jr in 1834 and owned by three prominent families in the following 150 years. The house contains the furniture and trinkets of these families, tracing the progression of the house’s history through the years. The grounds are absolutely lovely landscaped gardens, and include the irresistible Woodland Walk.
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Seamen’s Bethel
The small chapel called Seamen’s Bethel, across from the Whaling Museum, was a refuge for sailors from the rigors and stresses of maritime life. Melville immortalized it in Moby-Dick. ‘In this same New Bedford there stands a Whaleman’s Chapel, and few are the moody fishermen… who fail to make a Sunday visit to the spot.’
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New Bedford Art Museum
The New Bedford Art Museum is located at City Hall Sq. Rotating exhibits feature regional artists. The space is also used to exhibit whaling artifacts and Quaker pieces from the vast 19th-century collections of the New Bedford Free Public Library.
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New Bedford Fire Museum
Antique fire trucks and fire-fighting equipment fill the 1867 firehouse known as Old Station No 4, which houses the New Bedford Fire Museum. It appeals to children, who love the old trucks, uniforms, pumps and fire poles.
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