• Historic buildings and the waterfront in New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park

    New Bedford Whaling

    National Historical Park Massachusetts

The City That Lit the World

"The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in, in all New England..nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses, parks and gardens more opulent, than in New Bedford…all these brave houses and flowery gardens came from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. One and all, they were harpooned and dragged up hither from the bottom of the sea."

H. Melville, "Moby-Dick"

Features

  • Screen shot of New Bedford Shoreside Industries App with radio buttons to visit the park, explore the map, and a photo gallery.

    New Bedford Shoreside Industries App

    This GPS-enabled walking tour app will be your guide to the City that Lit the World. Free download for Apple and Android devices.

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  • Screenshot of the park facebook page showing the shoreshide industries app.

    Stay Connected: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter

    Share your experience and stay connected with New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.

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  • Illustration of ship captain steering his ship in open seas

    Fun For Kids!

    Search for hidden pictures, go on a whaling voyage around the world, or learn about whales by exploring the park's online kids' activities.

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  • A scene from the short film, American Dreams

    "American Dreams" Short Film by YAP!

    A short film by the Youth Ambassador Program that takes viewers on a journey of individuals seeking the American Dream through different paths.

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  • Close-up of child coloring with her guardian.

    Whales, Tails, and Sails!

    Free childrens' activities with songs, books, music crafts and free play! Especially designed for ages 0-5 every Friday at 10:00 a.m.

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  • Close-up view of Belgian block pavers, which are rectangular, grayish and packed in with sand to pave streets in the historic district.

    The Soundscape Underfoot

    A walk through New Bedford has all the sounds of a city-but Belgian block paved streets have a distinct sound. Hear more via this imaginative article.

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  • Madeiran Dancers on the Whaling Museum Plaza

    Calendar of Events

    There's always something to do in the City that Lit the World. Check out the park's calendar of events for a listing of upcoming programs and events.

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  • African-American whaleman on a New Bedford whaleship

    Communities of Whaling

    Discover the stories of five ethnic groups in New Bedford whose roots trace back to whaling in this interactive online exhibit.

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  • A Cape Verdean whaleboat crew rowing a whaleboat

    History and Culture

    The whaling industry amassed enormous wealth and caused tens of thousands of men to risk their lives in far flung seas.

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Did You Know?

A contemporary engraving depicts colonists dumping tea chests in Boston Harbor in December of 1773.

The first whaling vessel launched from New Bedford in 1767, the "Dartmouth," was one of the ships later involved in the Boston Tea Party.