New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park

08/29/2026

Whaling History Alliance, our BFF, is hosting a FREE Family Movie Night again right here in our Visitor Center Garden -- tonight, 7:30 33 William Street, New Bedford, MA 02740.

Bring a chair, a blanket, your favorite snacks and family friendly drinks. Let's end this great summer together!

08/21/2026

National Park Service Junior Rangers Come for the learning, stay for the fun! Lots of activities and fun for all ages. Saturday, August 22, 2026, 9:00am - 5:00pm.

07/31/2026

07/31/2026

Join our friends Sketchygoichie for this upcoming free digital art workshop happening at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park! 🐋

Staring this Saturday, August 1st (and continuing on Saturdays, August 8th & August 15th) from 10:30a-12:00pm. Visit the web link in the comments to register. 🐳

07/30/2026

Join us today at 6:30 PM in exploring more about Frederick Douglass and Herman Melville time in New Bedford and New York.

Friday, July 31, 2026

6:30 - 8:00pm

Entangled Lives in the VC Theater with Ranger Rufai Shardow

Explore the intersecting legacies of two towering 19th Century figures Herman Melville and Frederick Douglass whose writings and moral visions remain deeply entangled in our American Story.

07/16/2026

Friday, July 31, 2026

6:30 - 8:00pm

Entangled Lives in the VC Theater with Ranger Rufai Shardow

Explore the intersecting legacies of two towering 19th Century figures Herman Melville and Frederick Douglass whose writings and moral visions remain deeply entangled in our American Story.

06/27/2026

Hi Tea at 2 pm tomorrow with Hetty Green!

06/09/2026

This Thursday's AHA! New Bedford offering at the park!

Thank you New Bedford Creative for the assist!

The 2026 Artist in Residence program at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park is under way and this year's first artist, Zara Shahi, artist was just interviewed by Gilda Geist on All Things Considered - Local NPR for the Cape, Coast & Islands.

You can learn about how Zara approaches their work, their signature style, their current residency and how you can join them to learn how to weave in a hands-on workshop, by listening to the full interview here: https://www.capeandislands.org/local-news/2026-06-02/new-bedford-artist-in-residence-leads-community-weaving-project

Interested in joining the next workshop? Zara will be having their next hands-on weaving workshop during June AHA! Night's Pride Celebration. Free to the public, open to all skill levels and ages, and materials will be provided for you.

📍 Where: New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, 33 William St., NBMA 02740
🕰️ When: Thursday, June 11, 5:00 - 7:00 PM

We hope to see you there.

06/08/2026

Did you know that life on earth depends upon whales and their p**p? You may not want to contemplate the feculence of whales, but don’t poo-poo it. Whale excrement fertilizes the phytoplankton that provide 50% of the planet’s oxygen. And whales are efficient repositories for carbon capture, helping keep the planet healthy and in balance.

So, on this World Oceans Day, let’s celebrate whales. May these protectors of the planet live long and prosper so that we may as well.

Graphic courtesy of Sara Wolman

05/20/2026

Even the squirrels are lined up at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park for our walking tours.

From May 20 through October 11, visitors (squirrels welcome, too) can step into history with a free guided walking tour through Historic Downtown New Bedford. From courageous escapes on the Underground Railroad to the global reach of the whaling industry, each tour highlights a unique chapter of the city’s past. All tours begin at the Visitor Center at 33 William Street and are subject to change.

https://www.nps.gov/nebe/planyourvisit/calendar.htm