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

    New Bedford Whaling

    National Historical Park Massachusetts

Visitor Centers

The National Park Visitor Center

The National Park Visitor Center

NPS Photo by Tim Sylvia

The National Park Visitor Center is located in the heart of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. Stop by for a brief orientation and pick up all of the materials you will need before setting out to explore the park, its partners and all the city of New Bedford has to offer.
 
The Waterfront Visitor Center on Pier 3

The Waterfront Visitor Center

NPS Photo by John Robson

The city-owned Waterfront Visitor Center or Wharfinger Building houses an exhibit that interprets present-day commercial fishing and the building's past as the city's seafood auction. Start your waterfront adventure here by taking a self-guided tour of the working waterfront, a harbor tour (fee) or a ferry ride to Martha's Vineyard or Cuttyhunk island.

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.