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Contact: Emily G. Prigot, 508-996-4095 x 6105 Contact: Laura Orleans , 508-993-8894 The Dock-U-Mentaries Film Series continues on Friday, August 21st at 7:00 PM with America's Forgotten Heroine: Ida Lewis, Keeper of the Light, an award-winning documentary by Marian Gagnon. Dock-U-Mentaries is a co-production of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, and the Working Waterfront Festival.Films about the working waterfront are screened on the third Friday of each month beginning at 7:00 PM in the theater of the Corson Maritime Learning Center, located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. All programs are open to the public and presented free of charge. With a New England Emmy nomination for "Best Documentary" and a Gutsy Gals Award for "Best Short Historical Documentary," American's Forgotten Heroine: Ida Lewis, Keeper of the Light resuscitates the forgotten and intriguing life story of this country's most famous maritime heroine. Directed and produced by Marian Gagnon of Goodnight Irene Productions, this 45-minute film provides an intimate portrayal of Ida's life from age 15 to 69(from 1857 to 1911) and the passion and moral fiber she intrinsically brought to her work as a lighthouse keeper and unlikely heroine. It also explores the myriad decisions which led to a life of both fame and isolation, Ida's unexpected celebrity in Newport as well as across the U.S., and the impact she inadvertently had on the early women's rights movement. Filmmaker Marion Gagnon will introduce the film and take questions following the screening. Special thanks to Linda Meredith, the Fairhaven Improvement Association, and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary New Bedford Flotilla 65 ~ First District Northern Region for making this evening possible. The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and presenting the history and culture of New Bedford's fishing industry through exhibits and programs. The Working Waterfront Festival is a project of the Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern MA, a non-profit organization. The free festival, a family friendly, educational celebration of New England's commercial fishing industry, features live maritime and ethnic music, fishermen's contests, fresh seafood, vessel tours, author readings, cooking demonstrations, kids' activities and more.It all takes place on working piers and waterfront parks in New Bedford, MA, America's #1 fishing port, on the last full weekend in September. www.workingwaterfrontfestival.org. New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park was established by Congress in 1996 to help preserve and interpret America's nineteenth century whaling industry.The park, which encompasses a 13-block National Historic Landmark District, is the only National Park Service area addressing the history of the whaling industry and its influence on the economic, social, and environmental history of the United States.The National Park visitor center is located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. It is open seven days a week, from 9 AM-5 PM, and offers information, exhibits, and a free orientation movie every hour on the hour from 10 AM-4 PM.The visitor center is wheelchair-accessible, and is free of charge.For more information, call the visitor center at 508-996-4095, go to www.nps.gov/nebe or visit the park's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NBWNHP. Everyone finds their park in a different way. Discover yours at FindYourPark.com About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 407 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice. |
Last updated: August 20, 2015