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NPS
Contact: Emily Prigot, 508-996-4095 x6105 Walking tour of whaling's Shoreside IndustriesNew Bedford, Mass.- A new GPS-enabled walking tour application exploring New Bedford's shoreside industries is now available for Apple and Andriod devices. New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park's Shoreside Industries app takes visitors on a journey through a time when New Bedford's waterfront teemed with blacksmiths, coopers, caulkers, and others involved in whaling related trades.
Users of the app will have the opportunity to learn about the men and women who contributed to New Bedford's dominance of 19th century whaling through historic photographs, paintings and illustrations, and stories of triumph, tragedy, sacrifice, and perseverance. A GPS-enabled triggering system allows users to access information automatically or manually. Let this walking tour app be your guide to the city that Herman Melville described as "perhaps the greatest place to live in, in all New England." Free downloads are available on the park's website, Apple's App Store, and Google Play. Search keywords "New Bedford Shoreside Industries."
Jen Nersesian, superintendent of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, remarked, "The public often hears of whalemen and whaling voyages, yet the men and women who worked ashore in New Bedford to support that enormous industry are given little attention. This tour, available to anyone with a smart phone, brings those stories to life. This app is not just for visitors who have travelled a great distance to get to New Bedford; we hope that members of our local community will also explore this history in their national park."
Shoreside Industries was produced through a partnership between the New Bedford Whaling Museum and the National Park Service.
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-3 PM. (available in several languages) 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, or follow the park on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NBWNHP. -NPS-
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Last updated: February 26, 2015