City Celebrates! New Year's Eve National Park Activities

Join the 1850s ladies and make a calendar for the new year.

NPS

News Release Date: December 23, 2012

Contact: Emily Prigot, 508-996-4095 x6105

National Park celebrates New Year's Eve with 1850s ladies, Portuguese fado music, new park exhibit
As part of City Celebrates! New Year's Eve

New Bedford, Mass.- Celebrate the New Year at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park! Ruth and Abby, the national park's 1850s ladies, will be marking the new year by providing materials for visitors of all ages to create their own 2013 calendar, and would be pleased to have you join them, from 5:00-7:00 PM. Following the calendar-making activity, at 7:00 PM, renowned Portuguese fado singer Ana Vinagre will be singing traditional Portuguese songs. On display all evening will be the park's new temporary exhibit, "Binding Wounds, Pushing Boundaries." This exhibit explores the participation and contributions of African Americans as nurses, surgeons and hospital workers during the Civil War. All activities will take place on Monday, December 31 at the New Bedford Whaling National Park Visitor Center, 33 William Street, downtown New Bedford. Admission is free for all events.

The calendar-making, concert and exhibit are just part of City Celebrates! New Year's Eve, presented by AHA! and the City of New Bedford in the heart of the downtown historic district. Join the AHA! partners for a FREE family-friendly evening in Downtown New Bedford from 4:30 to 9pm - but feel free to arrive early and stay late! The fireworks start at 8:30, and take place at Custom House Square. For more information on City Celebrates! New Year's Eve, go to http://ahanewbedford.org/newyearseve.html.

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. The visitor center is wheelchair-accessible, and is free of charge. For more information, call the visitor center at 508-996-4095. For more information, go to www.nps.gov/nebe, or follow the park on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NBWNHP.

-NPS-