Descendants of Whaling Masters

Descendants of Whaling Masters Nautical History Descendants of Whaling Masters, Inc., was founded in 1974 at the instigation of Mrs.

Dorothy Howland of New Bedford, widow of whaling-tales author Chester Scott Howland. The best-selling writer's father was Captain George Lyman Howland of the New Bedford whaler Canton, and his elder brother was James Lyman Howland, whose daughter Ellen became the Descendants' first chairman. She was elected at the organization's initial meeting in New Bedford on October 23, 1974, and served with distinction until her unexpected death in 1993.

06/05/2026

Wishing all a great Annual Meeting!

05/31/2026

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

05/18/2026
04/19/2026

The Wanderer was the last of New Bedford’s square-rigged whaleships, whose wreck on Aug. 26, 1924, would serve as a symbolic death for the city’s whaling industry,

The 116-foot bark proved to be a resilient ship, making 23 whaling voyages in a 46-year career and landing more than 900,000 gallons of oil. She survived an attack from an aggressive whale in the Caribbean Sea; she was iced into the Arctic Ocean several times; and she dodged German submarines during World War I.

After anchoring the Wanderer near Mishaum Point in Dartmouth, Capt. Antone Edwards hopped back on the tugboat to New Bedford. While he was away, an unexpected storm blew in.

“August 26 1924 will be a day long remembered in New Bedford for on that day, one of the worst storms in the memory of old timers swept the city,” a local publisher said at the time in a short book about the storm. “Not since 1869 had there been a tempest to compare with it.”

Newspapers reported 60 mph winds and 15-foot waves within Buzzards Bay, an astounding height for such a sheltered body of water. The force from the gale snapped one of the Wanderer’s two anchors and dragged the ship roughly seven miles across the bay until she struck the Middle Ground shoal near Cuttyhunk Island.

The Wanderer’s crew decided to abandon ship in two of the smaller boats typically used for approaching whales at close range and harpooning them. One boat made it safely to shore. The other disappeared for a night before it was rescued by a lightship stationed near the dangerous Sow and Pigs reef.

Everyone survived in the end, except the Wanderer, which ran aground on Cuttyhunk, totally ruined. A salvage company came to scrap the Wanderer for valuable parts the next day. Story by, Ben Berke

04/16/2026

The New Bedford Port Society: Seamen’s Bethel & Mariner’s Home, in conjunction with the City of New Bedford and the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick New Bedford, invite you to join us on Friday, April 17th at 5:30 PM for a special evening as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Catalpa Rescue.

Featuring guest lecturer Peter Stevens, acclaimed author of The Voyage of the Catalpa: A Perilous Journey and Six Irish Rebels’ Escape to Freedom. Stevens will share insights into this remarkable chapter of history and its enduring legacy.

More details on how to register for this event on our website: https://nbportsociety.org/celebrating-the-150th-anniversary-of-the-catalpa/

04/09/2026

🌸 You’re Invited to Hanami! 🌸

Join us for a day of culture, community, and celebration at the Cherry Blossom Festival hosted by the Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship Society!

🗓 Sunday, May 3
⏰ 10am–3pm
📍 Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship House,
11 Cherry Street, Fairhaven

✨ Enjoy a variety of experiences for all ages:
🎎 Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging)
📜 Kamishibai (paper theater)
🎶 Folk music
🥁 Taiko drumming performance
🥋 Martial arts demonstration
🎏 Origami & Japanese name writing
🏡 Open house at Captain Whitfield’s home

🍱 Optional Japanese Bento Box lunch ($20)
👉 Includes lunch, drink & dessert
📌 Must be reserved in advance (scan QR code!) or click here:
https://forms.gle/vgkqgfFxFYXZvWTC7

🎟 FREE admission

Bring your family, invite a friend, and come celebrate the beauty of spring and Japanese culture together 🌸

01/03/2026

Address

P. O. Box 3026
New Bedford, MA
02741

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