New Bedford, Massachusetts | Finding Spring in the Whaling City
We spent the day exploring New Bedford, Massachusetts – The Whaling City – and were rewarded with warm weather, great food, ocean views, and historic charm.
By Jim Darroch|Apr 05 2018|
The view from the museum observation deck.
Credit: Brenda Darroch
New Bedford, Massachusetts
Credit: Brenda DarrochCredit: Brenda Darroch While New Bedford, Massachusetts, receives only a brief mention in Herman Mellville’s classic, Moby Dick, you know you’re in “The Whaling City” within moments after turning onto the JFK Memorial Highway. Resisting the urge to head straight for the working waterfront, we instead turned right onto Elm Street. Noting the sign for the New Bedford Whaling Museum, we rumbled along on Elm Street taking in scenery that made me feel like I was in a different New England city every other block. Rustic brick and stone warehouses reminded me of Portland, Maine. I saw Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in the clapboard single-family homes, galleries, and cafes. The beautiful Victorian homes along County Street brought back memories of Providence, Rhode Island. Finally, as we rolled to a stop on Johnny Cake Hill next to the Whaling Museum, I felt like I could have been at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts.
The New Bedford Whaling Museum
Credit: Brenda DarrochCredit: Brenda Darroch I parked directly behind the two-hour parking sign, which seemed like a perfect situation given our compressed schedule. We crossed the street and made our way through the glass doors of the New Bedford Whaling Museum where we were greeted by Kobo and Quasimodo, the skeletons of a 66-foot blue whale and a 37-foot humpback whale. Despite the fact that Kobo and Quasimodo have been hanging out in the museum since 1998 and 1936 respectively, they don’t exactly smell that way. While not overpowering, there is a definite aroma not unlike cod liver oil. As I marveled at the sheer size of Kobo and Quasimodo, I became less concerned with how they smelled and happily handed over the two $14 adult admission fees.
Inside the museum are Kobo and Quasimodo, the skeletons of a 66-foot blue whale and a 37-foot humpback whale.
Credit: Brenda DarrochCredit: Brenda Darroch The New Bedford Whaling Museum is packed with artifacts, interactive displays, and models that bridge the delicate gap between present day conservation and respect for whales, and the savage pursuit of baleen and oil that define New Bedford’s past. One of the first rooms we entered featured a scale model of the tiny boats whalers used to approach their prey. Admiration for the whalers’ courage and toughness turned to uneasiness as we entered the room lined with examples of whaling tools and technology through the centuries. I’m not squeamish, but I freely admit that I found the jagged harpoon tips and menacing cutting tools tough to look at after contemplating how they were used. Fortunately, this display is in the same room as the half-scale model of the 89-foot Lagoda whaling ship that was built onsite from 1915-16 within the elegant confines of the Bourne building. Getting an up close look at the craftsmanship and attention to detail of this model is worth the price of admission.
The view from the museum observation deck.
Credit: Brenda Darroch
Great New Bedford article. I’m a Yankee, Grandma and Dad from NB. Keep up the wonderful NE articles. We absorb all when Yankee magazine arrives . Miss NE except for the beautiful snow which is nice to look at.
Years ago I went shopping at the Factory Outlet stores in the area of New Bedford, also there is a wonderful Atlantic Ocean beach somewhere nearby.
I think you mean Fall River,a common mix-up;and no doubt Horseneck in adjacent Westport.
Or maybe the Vanity Fair Factory Outlet in neighboring Dartmouth?
New Bedford was founded by Quakers who established it,along with adjacent Fairhaven,as the Whaling capital,usurping Nantucket.When whales grew scarce and other lamp oils were available,these same Quaker enterprises made a general transition to textiles,as witness the plethora of mill buildings still extant,many now converted to multiple uses while others await re-development.An irony of modern New Bedford is unavailability of prime waterfront property for upscale development-it’s simply too valuable as what it is today-the premiere fishing and processing site on the Atlantic.But what IS available is a huge and diverse number of loft spaces in the extensive Downtown…nothing quite like it anywhere,and still relatively affordable.
You missed the Lightship Memorial on the waterfront.
Thank you for you kind words about our city! I am glad you came for the day. I love New Bedford. There are so many wonderful things to do and see. I hope you come back again one day. The Summer Music Festival is a wonderful experience, I highly recommend it!
Beautiful photography
We have been to New Bedford, our grandson played baseball there for 3 years in the summer. I love this little town lots to see. Hope to visit again Went whale watching was a great time saw many whales also Whaling Museum very interesting. would suggest this town to everyone to visit had good time