New Bedford, MA—On April 5,
2004, the Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE) donated
the Corson Building to the United States of America. The
gift was made by WHALE to facilitate the transformation
of the Corson Building into the education and public program
center for New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.
Rehabilitating the building is the key development project
identified in the park’s General Management Plan,
completed in 2001 after three-years of public input. WHALE
is the organization that saved the Corson Building from
demolition.
Congress identified $2.5 million within the Fiscal Year
2004 budget it appropriated for the National Park Service
to be allocated toward the planned $5.5 million redevelopment
of the Corson Building. The planning and design phase of
the Corson Building project, supported by a $500,000 appropriation
in the Fiscal Year 2003 budget, began last year.
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Superintendent
John Piltzecker stated: “Creating space for the park
to engage students and teachers, and to involve the public
in discovering the region’s rich cultural heritage
was identified as a key priority for the National Park Service
and its local partners during the development of the park’s
master plan. We intend to design program spaces that serve
multiple needs and purposes. Our goal now is to see how
we can phase the project to make the best use of the funds
that were appropriated by Congress for this year. We thank
WHALE for this generous gift to the American people.”
The Corson Building, located next to the park Visitor Center
and across from the New Bedford Whaling Museum, consists
of two three-story brick structures built in 1875 and 1884.
For many years, the building housed Moby-Dick Marine Specialties,
a popular shopping stop. In 1997, a fire ripped through
the building, destroying its roof and top two floors. WHALE
came to the building’s rescue, hiring a structural
engineer who convinced the City Building Commissioner that
the building could be saved. WHALE acquired the building
and secured the funds for its stabilization. As part of
the donation to the United States, Moby-Dick Marine Specialties
will again operate their retail shop on the building’s
first floor once the building is rehabilitated.
The National Park Service hired TAMS Architecture to undertake
the planning and design phase of the Corson Building Project.
TAMS Architecture was chosen for their strong engineering
and environmentally responsible design background, as well
as past experience with similar projects such as the Heritage
Harbor Museum in Providence, RI. The project is under the
supervision of the Denver Service Center, the design and
construction branch of the National Park Service.
The National Park Service preserves and interprets some
of the country’s most extraordinary places. From the
red cliff walls of Arizona’s Grand Canyon to The Great
Hall of New York’s Ellis Island, national parks offer
opportunities for students and teachers to access information
that cannot be found anywhere else. Educational programs
based on the curriculum of area schools are recognized and
supported as an essential part of National Park Service
programming. Last year over one million students participated
in programs developed through partnerships between teachers
and staff at national parks.
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park was established
by Congress in 1996. One of over 380 National Park Service
areas, it is the National Park Service site addressing the
history of the whaling industry and its influence on the
economic, social and environmental history of the United
States. The park includes New Bedford’s 13-block waterfront
historic district, Schooner Ernestina, the Rotch-Jones-Duff
House & Garden Museum and several sites along the waterfront.
The legislation establishing the park also established a
connection between the NPS and the Iñupiat Heritage
Center in Barrow, Alaska.
The Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE) was established
in 1962, when urban renewal threatened entire neighborhoods
in the City of New Bedford. Its founders were committed
to saving the city's history and architectural heritage.
Over the past 42 years, WHALE has facilitated the completion
of more than 40 restoration and preservation projects in
the New Bedford area. WHALE was instrumental in the establishment
of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park in 1996
and donated the “Old Bank” that serves at the
park visitor center to the National Park Service in 2000.
For more information about New Bedford Whaling National
Historical Park, contact at the Visitor Center at (508)
996-4095, or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/nebe.
04/06/04
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park was established
in 1996 to preserve and interpret America's nineteenth century
whaling history. The park, which encompasses a 13-block
National Historic Landmark District, is the Service's only
unit addressing the history of the whaling industry and
its influence on the economic, social and environmental
history of the United States. For more information about
the park, contact the park visitor center at (508) 996-4095.
-NPS-
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA
The National Park Service cares for special places saved
by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.
