New Bedford Whaling Museum

Absolutely stunning museum in a beautiful part of New Bedford. I went on a Saturday and there were barely any crowds. Which honestly made me sad because this is such an excellent museum. The staff are friendly and do a great job up keeping this museum. There are so many interactive pieces and so much history of the surrounding area, not just whaling. When I first walked in I didn’t realize how big the museum was either- it’s massive. You can easily make a day trip out of this. The observation deck was easily my favorite part of the museum and there are so many cute shops and restaurants around it as well. I highly recommend everyone stops here!

An Incredible Cultural and Educational Experience! I brought my family to the New Bedford Whaling Museum to experience the Indigenous People’s culture, and the exhibit exceeded my expectations! It was beautifully curated and deeply informative. Parking can be a little tricky to find, so I recommend arriving early. Once inside, though, it’s absolutely worth it. The 3D sea lion movie was a highlight for all of us — so fun and engaging! There are so many exhibits about the whaling industry, marine life, and ocean habitats, and they really make you reflect on the history and importance of conservation. It even inspired me to plan a whale watching trip soon! If you love history, culture, and the sea, this museum is a must-visit. 🌊🐋

Wonderful museum, full of artifacts, stories, exhibits etc... Not just printed pages and pictures like some museums. This one is done right! We loved it, make sure you go up to the 3rd floor observatory and look out over the boat yard while imagining what it looked like a century ago.

Beautiful, well run, 3 floors of terrific history. Went there for Moby dick marathon reading, an annual event first week of January. Great experience.

WOW - this is a fantastic museum. It captures the rich history of whaling in New Bedford and so much more. Ecosystems, multi-cultural contributions, half-scale whaling ship model, indigenous-colonist relations, etc, etc. Worth many visits. I will return.

Beautiful museum. So much history beautifully exhibited. I’ll be back in the spring to visit again and to explore the town

This museum is hard to find, but it is well worth it. It is incredibly interesting and full of all kinds of New England whaling memorabilia, including a replica of a whaling ship. There are skeletons of whales and just an incredible amount of interesting things in this museum. I must’ve spent at least an hour in just the scrimshaw room alone. I can’t recommend this Museum enough.

On the one hand this museum was an amazing history of whaling and the local environment. But on the other hand, it bears witness to the wholesale slaughter and near extinction of whole species of whales, and so it's also very depressing. But I learned a lot and enjoyed my visit overall.

Absolutely stunning museum in a beautiful part of New Bedford. I went on a Saturday and there were barely any crowds. Which honestly made me sad because this is such an excellent museum. The staff are friendly and do a great job up keeping this museum. There are so many interactive pieces and so much history of the surrounding area, not just whaling. When I first walked in I didn't realize how big the museum was either- it's massive. You can easily make a day trip out of this. The observation deck was easily my favorite part of the museum and there are so many cute shops and restaurants around it as well. I highly recommend everyone stops here!

This is a 'must see' if you are in the area! I was surprised at how enjoyable and extensive the museum was. It's not just whales! New Bedford has a history of immigration from both Portugal and Cabo Verde. The museum has artwork by Verdean artists, a whole exhibit on Verdean music, and section devoted to the Azorean Island whaling trade and how it migrated to New Bedford. Part of the museum is an old bank building, and that part of the museum has an extensive collection of glass lamps from the time period when glassworking was a part of the New Bedford economy. But... back to the whales! There is a ton of information about whales, their migration patterns, the threats to their ecosystem and the skeletons of 3 different types of whales. There is also a replica of a whaling ship and tons of artifacts and information about the whaling trade. The docent tour is well worth it - our docent was super well informed and really added to the visit. You could easily spend a whole day here. Don't miss it!

We went to New Bedford Massachusetts to the Whaling Museum. It cost $48 to self tour the 3 levels of exciting artifacts including the World's Largest Model Ship that you can actually board and investigate! We all found the museum fascinating! Definitely recommend to all to enjoy!

Fantastic museum and always entertaining! This is a hidden gem in New Bedford and well worth seeing. The permanent collection is excellent and periodically there are temporary exhibitions. Highly recommended!

Seeing all the authentic items was wonderful. But nothing topped seeing a full sized ship in the middle of the building. Very impressive.

This is the cutest local museum. I have been here many of times and am always happy to be there. It is a gem!

Could very easily spend hours in here. I appreciate the fact that they highlight different ethnic and cultural perspectives to whaling. We will definitely be back.

Not just one of the best Museums in the city but one of the best in the state. Learn about how New Bedford lit the world and how important New Bedford was to the world and still is for the country.

So much information about whaling! Lots of interesting displays as well as a movie. It's a don't miss museum.

Wonderful place! Been here several times over the years. The place was a hive of activity, inside & outside attractions--esp. the seaman's chapel across the street. In the museum, docents are gonzo in immersing the visitor in the museum's impressive collection. The museum was hopping--__go__, New Bedford! Will be back!

This was a fabulous museum! There was plenty of street parking close by, so it was easy to access. They have a lot of variety among the different sections, so we weren't just learning about whales the entire time (although that was my favorite part). The whale skeletons and accompanying facts when you first walk in are fascinating. After that section, you learn more about the history of whaling in New Bedford and it's all very interesting. We went aboard the world's largest model ship and got to see lots of artwork as well. The museum ends with an observation deck on the top floor and a cute gift shop. We're so happy we came here.

Anybody who has read Moby Dick (or started, but not finished it- I'm looking at you, Mister!) knows that our protagonist, Ishmael, begins his whaling journey in New Bedford. The whaling museum is located in this neighborhood, just down the roead from the Seamans Bethel featured in the novel. When I was a child, it seemed to me that this museum celebrated New Bedford's Whaling Past; 50 years on, it seems, through adult eyes,to be a more sober acknowledgement of whaling's historical importance to this city's economy and culture.When the whaling industry declined, so too did the city's importance and prosperity. This museum is both a monument and memorial of that past. That said, it's still a great museum for kids.The four whale skeletons are amazing, as is The Ladoga, the worlds largest ships model, that you can climb on. Lots of info about whales and whaling, and maritime in general. I reallly liked the ships figureheads. This is as close as you can get to what was a substantial portion of America's commerce; hidden between the lines is a cautionary tale about resource exploitation, unsustainable harvesting techniques, and a lack of diversity in an economic base.

An eye-opening opportunity to discover the people of New Bedford and how the demographics of the area came to be by learning the history of what brought them there. Capable of supporting small or large groups, this museum has a lot to offer. Donations to the museum also help keep the doors open during such challenging times. Parking can be a challenge as it is street parking along what seemed like residential and business routes. Upstairs, there is an area that can be booked for speaking engagements, luncheons, or other gatherings. There's a great view overlooking the marina and waterfront. Keep in mind, the age of the attendee will have different takeaways from the various exhibits. Not a bad experience but just found it to be adequate.

First of all, thank you to the many volunteers who work at the Whaling Museum who take pride in describing the displays and history of whaling. We have learned about the time periods and how and why whales were being taken from the sea. The museum is an eye opener from the struggles of human survival and way of living to save the whale because of over hunting.

Excellent museum, you could definitely spend a whole afternoon here. Exhibits focus on the history of whaling, in New England and globally. A heavy focus is on the history of whaling in New Bedford and its impact. Self guided tour options are available via your phone by scanning a QR code posted in the lobby area.

This is one museum I'll never forget. Cody was our tour guide and was a great storyteller sharing so much history with us. He even kept my teenage children engaged and interested in learning about the whales and history of New Bedford. Thank you Cody!

Cody was helpful and knowledgeable, he made the museum experience so special. We recommend visiting and talking to him.

i love this place. i have been here three times already i liked the wale skeletons. they had a ship you can go on. they even have a library. i think they had more things than last time i visited. they have three floor. one room is devoted to paintings. i think the library is called the herman melevel library. i didnt go in, i just looked through the window. i took many pictures. i spent a hour there. they have a small little gift shop.

Nice museum in the heart of downtown New Bedford. There are a lot of exhibits including several massive, complete whale skeletons and tons of historical information. They host a lot of fun events here as well. In fact, we came to a wine tasting here one time and that was a lot of fun. There is a lot more to see here than I expected including a giant model ship, so large it fills an entire room and you can walk around on it. They also have an extensive collection of scrimshaw which was pretty fascinating. Be sure to go all the way up to the top floor and walk out on the balcony patio area. You will enjoy a great panoramic view!

There were some very impressive exhibits there, especially related to the Portuguese community, and their history of hard work as fishermen. The huge model whaling ship on the second floor was really interesting, too! The museum has a nice collection of scrimshaw. My complaint is that there was absolutely nothing at this museum dedicated solely to the whaling ship industry. There was a very brief mention of the 300 +. ships that were built in New Bedford, but no sketches or photos of the craft. There was no model of the shipbuilding community as it existed for so many years. And there was also no list of the names of the whale ships that were built there.

Be aware: this museum is HUGE and takes forever to get through. There is so much to see and the history is incredible!

Nice place the kids really enjoyed it and the staff was very friendly. We went at a time when it wasn't very busy so we got alot of attention and almost a personal tour guide for half of the visit. I will be back soon. Just be careful regarding parking since it metered parking all around. Put more than you think you will need to avoid getting a ticket

They had awesome scrimshaw and information about the whaling history. My two negatives would be that there were many items without labels and they need a coffee shop.

fabulous museum. well curated, good collection of artifacts. chronicles the cruel brutal and tragic history of whaling. highly recommend.

Amazing exhibits! Such interesting and educational things to see! I would plan to be there for at least two hours! And New Bedford iOS lovely.

Very interesting. We happened to have time before our flight left and we opted to visit here. We enjoyed looking through the museum and seeing the downscaled boat that you could walk on.

Quaint yet extensive museum highlighting New Bedford's rich whaling history. Was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the exhibits, covering whales, history of commerical whaling, and the diversity that the industry brought to the city...and more. They even have the largest model ship in the world, built at half scale! Definitely a top place to visit when visiting New Bedford, will visit again next time I'm in town!

I expected to get through pretty quickly, because whaling. But we spent more than an hour and a half, went to lunch and then came back for another 1.5 hours! The exhibits were fascinating and I love how they tied New Bedford's history to other whaling communities in Japan, the Azores and Cape Verde. There's a model of the 1800s era whaling ship Lagoda that you can walk onto (the world's largest ship model) and whale bones everywhere plus exhibits that trace whaling to before the Revolutionary War and explain the religious politics of the time. The space is gorgeous - be sure to go up to the observation deck for views of the harbor - and the museum store had a great selection. The museum was a great value with friendly and knowledgeable staff and a killer air conditioning system that we appreciated.

Homegirl has given so many star ratings, she should have her own constellation. Aurora Homegirl-ialis should be lightin up yo skies. But after nights stars wash away and the mornings sun breaks, Homegirl has to find some leisurely activities to liven up her Instagram feed. On a dreary New England day there is not much to do, making museums the perfect go to. Just because Homegirl has the beauty of a thousand stallions doesn't mean she's a wild woman. She was actually the first ever to RECEIVE applications FROM all 8 Ivy League colleges. She turned down her opportunity to doctor the sick and lawyer the lands for a life of luxury hotels and ice on her chains. Homegirl was chauffeured to the New Bedford Whaling Museum not fully knowing what to expect. She usually naps on longer rides and when she awoke she was in front of a rather seemingly small building. Nonetheless Homegirl wiped the crusties from her eyes corners and walked in. $17 admission fee? Homegirl hopes she's getting some kind of freebie for that price. Can she slip a little whale tooth in her pockets? Turn it into paper weight? Shoo. Yo girl is feeling week after handing over 1 Hamilton, 1 Lincoln and 2 Washington's. Homegirl could have bought 2 McDonalds Lobster Rolls for that price. But what's done is done and Homegirl begrudgingly decided to make that money last all day. She began her way slowly through the first floor. She was intrigued. Then the first half of the second floor. Then the second floor didn't seem to end. Her Loubuittons were sliding off the sling back at this point. Homegirl was perspiring in her furs with all this ground to cover. She learned so many things about whales, the history of whaling and the cultures influenced by it. She couldn't believe how you could build an entire museum about whales and surprisingly, be interested by it. So many galleries and rooms and floors to explore. Also find the small balcony area to get a grand view of New Bedford. Homegirl was at the NBWM for so long, her cuticles grew back in. Her time was well spent and her cranium was nourished. She really thought she was in good shape, but grew exceptionally weary traveling through the museum. Her bunions were barking by the time her chauffeur came to pick her up. She was down for the count in the back of that limo. She destroyed a 8 ounce can of party peanuts and good night sleep tight. She dreamed of whales of course, and of how modern day yachts can't compare to the old fishing boats she saw that day. Homegirl rested in both body and spirit until she found her next establishment to review.

We spent a good part of our afternoon at this museum and had a fabulous time on a rainy day. What a fascinating history this city has. New Bedford has always been on our radar since one of our formative experiences as a newly dating couple was listening to an audiobook of Moby Dick on a road trip from Dallas to Marfa and back (FYI: it still wasn't enough time). We've been fascinated ever since, and while the museum has Melville quotes sprinkled all around, the only thing truly related to the book is the Seamen's Bethel across the street. But wow! If you're interested in whales or whale-life, this is the place for you. The exhibits range in terms of biology, history, commerce, anthropology, shipping, you name it, they've got it. We appreciated that there was a lot of attention given to the Wampanoags and also plenty of vibrant displays about the city's connection to the Azores and Cape Verde. While the layout of the place is a bit funky, you do get used to it, and it was also very toddler-friendly (our daughter especially enjoyed exploring the whale heart and climbing on the ship). We probably spent a good two hours here, which given our daughter's shelf-life at museums, is saying a lot. In addition to the Seamen's Bethel, there's a national parks center just down the street which is also worth a visit. What a wonderful city--we'd love to come back again in better weather for more exploring and to eat some Portuguese food.

I'm not a big museum buff, but this is a definite treasure chest of "stuff". The short film at the beginning really got me interested in the history/background of New Bedford, the region, and whaling such that the whole set of displays made more sense. Looking at the building from the front, you'd expect to walk on thru in no time at all. Well, hold on there matey! The rooms go on forever and ever. And don't miss the model ship. It is so interesting. And the folks working there are treasures as well. The trip was decidedly worth it.

Absolutely awesome. Should give it 6 stars. Check my 35 pictures of this place and then go anyway! For $17 or whatever, you can spend a few hours wandering around. Don't let the one room at the entrance fool you. It's MUCH bigger than that. Heck, the 50 ft tall ship inside will make you a believer and you'll feel like your part of the crew! Don't forget to wear your hard hat when you board :-)

Quintessential New Bedford. I bring all my out of town guests here. Been coming since the 1970s. Enjoy watching moby dick on the big screen and exploring the Lagoda ship.

Wow. Whales! I never thought they could be so interesting, but I really enjoyed this museum. Obviously I'm from a place where we don't do much whaling, so I went in to the museum with a clean slate. I've never read "Moby Dick" (shocking!) and I know nothing about maritime activities, so I was glad we had the opportunity to take a look inside. We had an afternoon to spend in New Bedford so we decided to learn as much about the town as possible. I love history, so this museum was definitely for me. The admission was a little steep - $10 for adults and $9 for students (especially for such a small museum) but it's well worth it to pay the price. I was really impressed with the layout of the museum and the explanations of New Bedford's whaling history. It turns out I really love scrimshaw and was really impressed with all of the scrimshaw pieces on display at the museum (some of that stuff really is insane). Right in the atrium, Kobo greets you at the top of the stairs. Kobo is the skeleton of a blue whale and he is awesome. There's a ton of written information about how the museum acquired the skeleton and different kinds of whales from the area. There is also a staff member in each room of the museum to provide explanation and answer any questions, so we were treated to a nice talk about Kobo and his life. There was a large collection of whaling art (photography and paint) and some actual artifacts from former whalers from the area. The biggest attraction of the museum is the Lagoda, a 1/2 size replication of an actual 19th century whaling boat used by a crew from New Bedford. The Lagoda is the largest model boat in the world so take a close look at it when you go to the museum. There's a man aboard to give a talk about how whaling works and what each part of the boat was used for when a crew went out to capture a whale. It was my favorite part of the museum, for sure. If you ever find yourself in the New Bedford area (or you're from SE Massachusetts) and you've never been here - go! It's well worth the visit to learn about the history of the area and the biggest industry in the town for decades. I found everything to be very interesting and I'd go back in the future.

This is THE whaling museum, the largest museum in the country devoted to the history of whaling. Housed in a beautiful building on Johnny Cake Hill across from the Seamen's Bethel, the museum has three complete whale skeletons (blue whale, hanging in the entry foyer; sperm whale in its own viewing gallery, and right whale which is currently being assembled in the Lagoda Room), a full introduction to the history of whaling in New England, a short lesson on Quakers, a beautiful display of ship models, a half-scale model of the whaling bark Lagoda, a gallery of British and Dutch whaling, and several rotating exhibits. Since I've been going, they have gone from an exhibit of ironwork (harpoons and other whalecraft) to their present exhibit, "Needle/Work - Art, Craft, and Industry in a Port City." The N.B. collection also includes everything from the old Kendall Whaling Museum in Sharon, MA, when that museum closed and was incorporated into New Bedford. The museum itself is spotlessly well-kept and looks mostly brand-new. The architecture is amazing, and each gallery is small enough that you don't feel so overwhelmed as you move from room to room, yet you soon find that the museum is a lot bigger than it looks when you first go in! Kids will love climbing all over the Lagoda model, which is built so that everything is just right for their height (adults will have to stoop a little). It's definitely worth spending some time in the Lagoda room, especially if you can't spare the time to make the trip down to Mystic Seaport to see the Charles W. Morgan; the Lagoda is the next best thing to seeing a real wooden whaler. There's also a full-scale model of a ship's forecastle in the next room. The museum gift shop is pretty good. Prices are high, but that's usually the case with all museum gift shops. There are bathrooms, vending machines, and a rest area downstairs by the entrance. If you don't know anything about whaling at all, there's a short intro video for you after you buy your tickets to teach you the ins and outs of 19th century whaling and its importance to New Bedford.

I was a bit leery about New Bedford's crime rate before coming to this museum, but it's a great museum and there's a strong police presence in this historic district. I was really surprised at all this museum has to offer. They have these gigantic whale bones hanging from the ceiling, and they have this gigantic replica of a ship (great for kids), and they have paintings, they have fine glassware, artifacts. They have tons of stuff. You could easily spend hours walking around here. And there's some beautiful colonial buildings in the historic district. There's a gallery nearby, and the New Bedford art museum is nearby. There's a convenient parking garage nearby, and they also have a nice visitors center that's worth checking out. I guess there's also a small aquarium for kids nearby (Ocean Explorium). Maybe check out the burrito place 'No Problemo'. Now I see why New Bedford belongs near the top of the list of Massachusetts tourist destinations.

Well worth the $14 for adult admission. If you want to be thorough and read everything, you'll need about 4 hours. But quite honestly, it seems only about 25-50% of the museum in fact pertains to this history of whaling. The rest is exhibits that have nothing to do with whaling. If you want to avoid kids, don't go here during a school day in the middle of a week like I did. A local elementary class decided to take a field trip that day. The one advantage to that was I did listen in on some of the lectures provided by the museum to the students. Free 2 hour street parking.

The richest media at the Whaling Museum come from bygone eras. Numerous paintings and charts and logbooks (from the seventeenth century on) give insight not just into whaling history but also to the attitudes people held about whaling and the sea. Thanks to whaling, New Bedford was one of the richest cities in the U.S., a crossroads for the, the self-proclaimed light of the world, home to sailors picked up by whalers in voyages across the world, and a source of exploration and discovery as ships chased cetaceans. Everywhere you look you will find ship figureheads, tabletop models of wooden ships, entire skeletons of the world's biggest sea animals, pictures of the sailors hailing from the US, Portugal, Hawaii, the South Pacific, the Arctic, Africa, etc. Those three-year voyages they took gave the first worldly perspectives in a time when most Americans never left the village or county they lived in. The highlight of the visit is touring the half-sized reproduction of the whaling ship Lagoda the building was built around a century ago. Even at only half the size of the original, the boat's masts and sails tower overhead to brush the ceiling of the grand hall. From scrimshaw to harpoons and Yankee whaleboats, the Museum offers riches of detail for whaling life. A word of caution: this museum also traces the growth of New Bedford and the New England colonies which sometimes seems distant from its whaling focus. King Phillip's War, enslavement of Indians, English explorations in the New World, and New Bedford's rise and fall as a center of cloth manufacture receive their share of attention. That makes the museum so much more and yet a little less than a Whaling Museum. Nonetheless, a visit is worth the several hours and the fees it will take.

Thar she blows! A small, but fun museum packed with unlikely goodies, including huge replicas of a whale's skeleton and a whaling ship, along with a first edition Moby Dick! The $9 fee is well worth the money. My boyfriend were checking out New Bedford and decided to stop here. I am a graduate student in the humanities, and the idea of seeing a first edition Moby Dick sent shivers down my spine. We stopped into the museum, and I was really impressed. I've been to my fair share of smaller New England town museums---some small and dinky, some great. This museum is WELL worth the money! Their exhibits are well put-together and I liked most of their holdings (replicas, porcelain, paintings, old books like Moby Dick and the Argonauts of California, and maps). It also happened to be BOGO at the museum for the day (2 tickets for 9 dollars!). What a steal. For any visitors to the area, this is an affordable pit stop. I'd also recommend eating at Brick Pizzeria Napoletana in town--so good!

It's a good place to visit with kid , clean restrooms. It always hot when entering the building and that is something that never improve. The parking is alway the challenge. A lot of seagulls. You can go the top roof and enjoy the view of the ocean ;)

Well recommended. It has a little bit of everything. If you seek, you shall find. It is not just about whale bones and shipping. There is incredible art, jewelry and Inuit artifacts.

Oh man. I remember being in New Bedford during the summers when they were rotting that whale and damn did that smell terrible. Now that the project is done, I was able to visit the museum two summers ago and it was really cool. New Bedford's whaling past is a fascinating part of American history that not many people know about. Check it out.

Great educational family trip. Was looking specifically for a photograph documenting my husbands great grand father (a whaler) BUT looked as if certain displays were in the middle of being rearranged, so not much was found at that time. We still enjoyed all of thw other history & knowledge we received. The museum is creative with the variety of presentations displayed. A life sized ship which you can actually board & explore, in the whaling section tou can interract with a voice automation which (as you press the button) speakes in CV creole different sentences which you can repeat to learn about the creole men & women & daily life, etc. We spent all of 90min. there. Dont get me wrong, theres lots to look at. Good times. On street or metered parking Lots of rich sea history to see

Just moved to the neighborhood and I love this place for drinks. I highly recommend the guava margarita. Not a big menu because I like options. But the sushi is decent. Would go back

New Bedford is a charming, under the radar port town that's worth checking out for a day. A trip to the New Bedford Whaling Museum is a definite must for visitors, history buffs, everyone! Before leaving town for good (post-bacc program over woohoo!), a friend and I decided to check out the New Bedford Whaling Museum and were pleased to learn that students get free admission during the school year. Luckily, we went when finals were still taking place (and even if it weren't free, it'd only be $9 for a student ticket). A knowledgeable and friendly staff member greeted us upon arrival, gave us some tips about exploring the galleries before the student groups started to circulate, and he also told us a quick story and some fun facts about Kobo the whale. Staff are really friendly here in general! The museum is a good size for a quick trip (we spent 1.5-2 hours here and took a quick tour through all the exhibits) - not overwhelming for academically taxed visitors like us! This place is also in a good location - right downtown near lots of good local eats (Brick, DNB Burgers, No Problemo, Cork!). Had tons of fun - loved seeing the ships, learning more about past whaling history and current efforts to preserve whales, and the local art (one of my favorite exhibits). UMass Dartmouth students, definitely check this place out during the school year! Everyone else, this is a great town to visit in the summertime and be sure to stop by the museum!

Fantastic museum with way more than meets the eye. Supports local community and always offers something fascinating. Don't miss the amazing view from the balcony.

Went to a wedding here last night and it was absolutely beautiful! Cocktail hour was around the giant ship indoors. Fun for photos for every age. A little dangerous once the booze kicks in, but fun none the less. The upstairs venue for the reception was done beautifully. The food was on point, passed apps were bomb, and steaks cooked perfectly. Aside from the "neighbor" across the street exposing his "night life" to everyone, it was an awesome night. Kudos to the event coordinator. Didn't catch her name, but she killed it. And thank you to the bartenders for dealing w our shenanigans.

Highly recommend stopping by and checking out this museum! You need a whole day to see everything but if you have a few hours it will be a time will spent. Learned tons!

I could spend hours, exploring this expansive museum. The collection is astounding. I love NB so learning about the history was amazing. The ivory collection alone is impressive. The tour guides are really helpful as well. Easy parking in the Elm Street Parking Garage.