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New Bedford is a city of about 100,000 people on Buzzards Bay in southeastern Massachusetts. In the mid-1800s it was the whaling capital of the world, sending hundreds of ships across the oceans and becoming one of the richest cities in America. Herman Melville sailed from here in 1841, and the opening chapters of Moby-Dick take place in the town's streets and the Seamen's Bethel chapel.
The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park preserves the cobblestone streets, counting houses and mansions of the whaling era. Its centerpiece, the New Bedford Whaling Museum, displays whale skeletons, a half-scale model of the whaling ship Lagoda and a remarkable collection of art and scrimshaw. Grand homes like the Rotch-Jones-Duff House line County Street.
Today New Bedford is still one of the highest-value fishing ports in the United States, famous for its scallop fleet, and has a large Portuguese and Cape Verdean community, celebrated each August at the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, the largest Portuguese feast in the world. Fort Taber Park offers ocean views, and ferries leave for Martha's Vineyard and Cuttyhunk Island.
The world's largest museum devoted to whaling, with full skeletons of blue, humpback and sperm whales hanging overhead, a huge half-scale model of the whaling ship Lagoda, scrimshaw and paintings. It explains New Bedford's era as the whaling capital of the world. Allow two to three hours.
A small museum on the waterfront telling the story of the modern commercial fishing industry and the families behind it, in what is now one of the top fishing ports in the United States by value. Exhibits include oral histories and gear. Walk the nearby piers afterward to see the fleet.
A community art museum in a historic downtown building, showing changing exhibitions of regional and contemporary art and works from its collection by local artists such as William Bradford and Albert Bierstadt. It is small, so an hour is plenty. Visit during AHA! Night events.
A national park covering 13 blocks of cobblestone streets in downtown New Bedford, with whaling-era buildings, the Whaling Museum and Seamen's Bethel. Start at the visitor center on William Street for maps, films and free ranger-led walking tours in summer.
A chapel built in 1832 for sailors, described in Herman Melville's Moby-Dick, with a ship's prow-shaped pulpit added later in honor of the novel and walls of memorial plaques for lost whalers and fishermen. It is across from the Whaling Museum. Check opening hours, as they vary by season.
A Greek Revival mansion built in 1834 for whaling merchant William Rotch Jr., with period rooms and a full-block garden with boxwood parterres, roses and a wildflower walk. It shows how wealthy whaling families lived. Allow about an hour; the garden is lovely in June.
The home of Black Quaker abolitionists Nathan and Polly Johnson, who sheltered freedom seekers and welcomed Frederick Douglass and his wife when they first reached freedom in 1838. Now part of the national historical park, with tours on select days. Check the schedule in advance.
A waterfront park at the southern tip of the city with the granite Civil War-era Fort Taber, walking paths, a beach, fishing spots and harbor views of Buzzards Bay. The Fort Taber military museum shares local military history. It is a great place for sunset walks.
A large historic park on the west side of New Bedford designed by the Olmsted Brothers, with a pond, walking paths, playgrounds, sports fields and gardens, surrounding the Buttonwood Park Zoo. It is a nice place for a picnic or a stroll, and a farmers market runs here in season.
A small, well-kept zoo inside Buttonwood Park with animals from New England and around the world, including Asian elephants, bears, bison, seals and a farm area. It is easy to see in two hours. Visit in the morning, and walk the surrounding Olmsted-designed park after.
A restored 1923 vaudeville theater in downtown New Bedford, known as the Z, hosting concerts, comedy, touring Broadway shows, dance and family performances. It was renovated in recent years. Check the season online and pair a show with dinner in the downtown historic district.
The largest Portuguese feast in the world, held each August at Madeira Field in New Bedford's North End, founded by Madeiran immigrants in 1915. It features carne de espeto, Madeira wine, live Portuguese music and a parade. Bring cash, and expect big crowds on the evenings.
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