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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 9am - 5pm

New Bedford Whaling Museum

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New Bedford, MA
New Bedford Whaling Museum

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Anchored by the sea and its stories, the NBWM champions art, science, history, and culture. Wheelchair accessible.
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Discover the rich history, art, science, and culture of Southcoast Massachusetts, and New Bedford's ties to the rest of the world, told through the stories of its people. Surrounded by cobblestone streets once strolled by Frederick Douglass and Herman Melville, the Museum is conveniently located within the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. Dive into whale biology, ecology and behavior, and marine mammal conservation. Marvel at massive whale skeletons and the world’s largest ship model, the Lagoda – a half-scale model of a 19th century whaling vessel. Learn how Yankee whalers sailed the seven seas and see how famous maritime artists portrayed their voyages. See a digital replica of America's longest painting in motion - the incredible “Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World.” The original 1848 painting is longer than the Empire State Building is tall! The Museum’s collections number in excess of 750,000 items, including the world’s largest collections of scrimshaw, whaling logbooks, and journals. After your visit, browse books on maritime, whaling, and local history, as well as unique gifts related to the collection at the Museum's gift shop.

10/31/2026

📚 Love books? This event’s for you!

Join us on November 1, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, at the Whaling Museum with Write With Community for National Authors’ Day! Meet local authors, get creative with a hands-on writing workshop, enjoy book signings, and shop at a special pop-up book sale!

While you’re here, explore Boundless: The Book as Art and challenge your perception of what a book can be.

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or have unfinished book ideas in your Notes app, all literary fans are welcome!

Included with Museum admission | Free for Museum members

Learn more at whalingmuseum.org/program/national-authors-day-2026/ and writewithcommunity.org.

10/29/2026

November is bringing two new nature-focused exhibitions to the Whaling Museum! ⁠
"The State of Water: Our Most Valuable Resource" and "New Ecologies: May Babcock" explore the natural world through photography, paper, sculpture, and more—asking us to think a deeper about the resources around us! Plus, "Boundless: The Book as Art" is still on view. ⁠
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Learn more about the exhibitions coming up this month at whalingmuseum.org/exhibitions/upcoming⁠
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More on the 📅 this month: ⁠
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✍️National Authors' Day | November 1 | 11:00 AM- 3:00 PM⁠
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🎤First Fridays: The Art of Hip Hop | November 6 | Doors 5:00 PM & Program 6:00 PM ⁠
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🏦 Bank of America Free Admission Weekend | November 7 and 8 ⁠
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🐦America the Beautiful: Our Natural Wonders | November 11-26 | Daily showings start 12:30 PM⁠
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⛵ Lagoda: Below Deck | November 14 | 10 AM⁠
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📚 Moby-Dick Book Club | November 17 | 5:30 PM (Zoom)⁠
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📕Author Book Talk: Jen Rose Smith, Ice Geographies | November 19 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (Zoom)⁠
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📖Beyond the Page: Exploring the Art of the Book | November 19 | Doors at 5:30 PM⁠
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🌊The State of Water: Our Most Valuable Resource | Exhibition opening November 20⁠
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🌱New Ecologies: May Babcock | Exhibition opening November 20

10/28/2026

On November 20, dive into our newest exhibition, The State of Water: Our Most Valuable Resource, where award-winning photographer Brad Temkin transforms wastewater infrastructure into a work of art. 💦

From massive treatment systems to the science behind making water reusable, this bilingual exhibition (English/Spanish) takes a closer look at the clever—yet sometimes imperfect—ways we manage our most essential resource.

10/27/2026

Your harbor view is waiting🌊⁠
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Planning a wedding, corporate gathering, or major milestone moment? Host it at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, where waterfront views meet art, history, science, culture—and a setting like no other! ⁠
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Interested? Visit whalingmuseum.org/about/venue-rentals to learn more!

10/26/2026

Get this! Your favorite NBWM Store find, Jellycat, just got a winter makeover!

We’re talking Jellycat reindeer, Christmas trees, adorable winter bears, wreaths, and more—perfect gifts for kids and Jellycat collectors alike!
Stop by the Museum Store during your next NBWM trip and snag a new cuddly companion for your loved one on your way out!

10/25/2026

SOLD OUT! 🌊 ⁠
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We’re thrilled to announce that our event with Cole Brauer and her memoir, First Light: Sailing Solo But Not Alone, is officially SOLD OUT! ⁠
Join us in celebrating this record-breaking American sailor, the first American woman to race a sailboat solo nonstop around the world, as she shares her incredible journey in conversation with Wendy Dodson of Hummingbird Books and co-founder of The South Coast Literary Series.⁠
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A huge thank-you to everyone who grabbed a ticket and helped make this event such a success! We're excited to welcome you to NBWM in Tuesday to discuss this beloved work of literature!

10/24/2026

Need weekend plans? Head over to New Bedford to check out "caught" on (2026) on view in Boundless: The Book as Art!

An unconventional creation by Providence-based artist Isaac Wood, the artwork draws inspiration from netting needles and sea chests in the Museum’s collection. This one-of-a-kind work combines hand-tied nets, a wooden chest, and printed poetry.

If you're able to see it up close, you might spot a few poems "caught" in the nets!

10/24/2026

Start Scorpio season with NBWM's First Fridays: The Art of Hip Hop featuring live DJs, dance showcases, interactive art demos, and live performances curated with 3rd EyE Unlimited.⁠
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On Friday, November 6, local and regional artists — including young and emerging voices — take the stage for a night of beats, movement, art, and connection!⁠
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Admission: 18+ only. Tickets are $12.50 for Members or $25.00 for public.⁠ Get yours at the 🔗 in bio.

10/22/2026

On October 29, join author Janna Malamud Smith for a free virtual conversation about When the Island Had Fish, her exploration of the remarkable fishing community of Vinalhaven, Maine.

Through one small island, Smith opens up much bigger questions about fishing, commerce, climate change, natural resources, community, and the complicated relationship between people and the environments that sustain them.

Thursday, October 29 | 12-1 PM
Free | Virtual | Registration required

Grab your lunch and join us online for a story that starts on a Maine island and stretches into questions facing coastal communities around the world.

whalingmuseum.org/program/author-book-talk-janna-malamud-smith-when-the-island-had-fish/

Address

18 Johnny Cake Hill
New Bedford, MA
02740

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15089970046

Website

https://linktr.ee/WhalingMuseum

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