New Bedford: Whaling History, Art and HarborWalk

New Bedford tells its story in a distinctly maritime way: whaling and fishing feature prominently in several museums, while art, a historic house with a garden, a zoo and waterfront paths offer more to discover. You can shape your stay around a wide range of interests—from local history to a walk along the HarborWalk.

Whaling and Local History

At the New Bedford Whaling Museum, a gallery traces the city’s development: It charts the journey from a small coastal village to a prosperous city and shows the role whaling played in that transformation and in connecting New Bedford to the wider world. The museum also houses the world’s largest collection of scrimshaw. The permanent exhibitions include The Lagoda, a half-scale model of a whaling ship. With its varied focus, the museum is a destination for anyone interested in both economic development and tangible evidence of whaling history.

The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park offers free guided tours of the historic downtown. If you arrive on the Fall River/New Bedford MBTA Commuter Rail, the Whaling Museum is about a 20-minute walk from the station. The route follows Purchase Street (Pleasant Street) and William Street. This approximate walking time and route offer practical guidance for visiting the museum by train.

Stories of Seafarers and City Residents

Founded in 1822, the Seamen’s Bethel served generations of seafarers as a spiritual refuge. Visitors can see the marked pew where Herman Melville sat. The Fort Taber-Fort Rodman Military Museum and Veterans’ Memorial focuses on another aspect of the city’s history: It preserves and presents New Bedford’s military history.

The house and gardens at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum tell 150 years of the city’s economic and social history, from 1834 to 1981. At the heart of the story are the lives of the people who lived and worked on the property. The estate also includes an extensive rose garden. Anyone interested in the history of everyday life will find a different perspective here than in the museums focused on whaling and fishing.

Fishing, Art and More to Discover

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center preserves and shares the history of fishing—past, present and future—through exhibitions, programs and archives. Its exhibition More than a Job: Work and Community in New Bedford’s Fishing Industry vividly brings fishing work and community to life. It features a reconstructed work deck, a shellfish dredge, a kitchen table and bunks, alongside historical images and film footage. More than 60 audio contributions bring in the voices of the fishing community.

The New Bedford Art Museum brings together works by local artists and community partners with selections from the city’s historic art collection, presented in collaboration with the New Bedford Free Public Library. It also hosts large-scale international solo and group exhibitions of innovative contemporary art. Public programs such as the Enchanted Evenings series connect with the current exhibitions and include film, dance, poetry and music.

Buttonwood Park Zoo offers a very different experience. Founded in 1894, it is home to more than 240 animal species. These include Asian elephants, red pandas, cougars, eagles, seals and otters, as well as South American primates and numerous waterfowl species. The wide variety of animals makes the zoo a destination in its own right for anyone who wants to add wildlife viewing to their trip.

Explore the Waterfront

Opened in 2015, the 3,880-foot HarborWalk runs along the New Bedford side of the hurricane barrier. It connects to a bike path along the waterfront that leads to the tip of the peninsula and historic Fort Taber Park. The route adds a way to experience New Bedford along the water to your museum visits. As you look for a vacation rental, you might first consider whether you want to focus your stay on maritime history, art, wildlife viewing or waterfront paths.

Discover More Places

If you’d also like to explore other places, you can find Dighton, Swansea, Norton, Seekonk, Freetown, Raynham, North Attleboro and Fairhaven here.

For the broader travel overview: Bristol.