New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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New Bedford Whaling
National Historical Park |
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New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Visitor Center
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States |
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| Area | 34 acres (14 ha) |
| Built | 1790–1855 |
| Architect | Robert Mills, Richard Upjohn, Russell Warren, others |
| Architectural style | Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate |
| Visitation | 273,862 (2011) |
| Website | New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000283 |
| Added to NRHP | 1996 |
The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park (NBWNHP) is a special place in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It's looked after by the National Park Service (NPS). This park celebrates the amazing history of New Bedford, which was once the world's most important whaling port in the 1800s.
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Discover New Bedford Whaling Park!
This park was created in 1996. It covers about 34 acres, spread across thirteen city blocks. It's not just one big area! Instead, it includes many important spots. You can visit a helpful visitor center. There's also the historic New Bedford National Historic Landmark District. Don't miss the New Bedford Whaling Museum. You can also see the Seamen's Bethel and the schooner Ernestina. Another cool spot is the Rotch–Jones–Duff House and Garden Museum.
How This Park Works
The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park is a bit different from other national parks. The National Park Service only owns two buildings here. These are the Visitor Center and the Corson Maritime Learning Center. Most of the park is actually a historic district. It's managed through a team effort. The NPS, the City of New Bedford, and private building owners all work together. Their goal is to protect the historic buildings and collections. They also promote learning about the history of whaling.
Connecting Across the World
This park also has a special connection with the Iñupiat Heritage Center in Utqiagvik, Alaska. This link remembers the more than 2,000 whaling trips. These trips sailed from New Bedford all the way to the Western Arctic.
The city of New Bedford encourages people to visit the park. They advertise it as "New England's real seaport." This is different from places like Connecticut's Mystic Seaport Museum. Mystic Seaport has old buildings and ships moved from other places. New Bedford, however, is the actual historic port.
The Famous Whaleman's Statue
You might hear about the famous Whaleman Memorial. People often call it the "Whaleman's Statue." This statue is not inside the park's boundaries. But it's very close! It's just two blocks west of the park. You can find it at the corner of William and Pleasant Streets. It stands in front of the New Bedford Public Library.
Images for kids
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Visitor Center
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Benjamin Rodman Mansion
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Dover Street
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Rotch-Jones House
