New Bedford, MA—Visiting maritime musicians and craftspeople from Mystic to Cape Ann will enliven the streets of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park every Saturday throughout the summer season beginning July 12, 2003. Free performances will take place in and around the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Visitor Center at 33 William Street and the New Bedford Whaling Museum at 18 Johnny Cake Hill from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Visitors young and old are invited to enjoy these songs and stories of the sea, have lunch in one of several restaurants in the historical park, and then visit the New Bedford Whaling Museum, where performances will continue (for the price of admission) inside the museum from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Free traditional maritime craft demonstrations will take place from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the visitor center garden.

In the event of rain, the performances and crafts will be moved inside the Visitor Center and the Jacobs Family Gallery of the Whaling Museum. Maritime Heritage Days at a glance—

Craft Demonstrations
July 12: Tor Bendicksen – net making
July 19: Bob Leonard & Phil Szenher – sea chests
July 26: Anne Lima – Nantucket lightship baskets
August 2: Manny Palomo – wooden boat building
August 9: Barbara Merry – rigging & marlinspike
August 16: Dean Rantz -- blacksmithing
August 23: Gerry Vinci – figurehead carving
August 30: Ron Raiseles – coopering (barrel making)

Music
July 12: Geoff Kaufman and Rick Spencer
July 19: Jerry Bryant and Dave Peloquin
July 26: Deborah Cowan
August 2: The Rum Soaked Crooks
August 9: Andy Woolf and Tom Goux
August 16: John Roberts and Larry Young
August 23: Ye Mariners All
August 30: Shipping News

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park was established by Congress in 1996 to help preserve and interpret America’s nineteenth century whaling history. The park, which encompasses a 13-block National Historic Landmark District, is the only NPS area addressing the history of the whaling industry and its influence on the economic, social and environmental history of the United States. The Maritime Heritage Days series is supported, in part, by a grant from the New Bedford Area Cultural Councils, local agencies supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park is easy to reach and close to hotels and beaches. New Bedford is just one hour south of Boston and 45 minutes east of Providence. From Interstate 195 take exit 15 and follow the brown and white National Park Service signs. Parking is available at the Elm Street parking garage and the Custom House Square parking lot. Limited on-street parking is also available. For more information contact New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park at (508) 996-4095, or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/nebe.

Prepared 03/21/03