Summer Family Fun Programs and Activities
Below is a listing of ongoing family activities and programs available at the Museum this summer. The calendar page also contains the same listings.
Every Day
Family Fun Exhibit ~ Fo’c’sle
Discover what life was like aboard a whaleship. Lie in the berths, heave the windlass and raise the sails!
Children’s Activity Table ~ Located at top of stairs above Jacobs Family Gallery
FREE with regular admission.
Family Fun Exhibit ~ Go A-Whaling I Must!
Join a whaling crew and learn about the whale hunt from the chase, to the harvesting of the whale, to gauging the quantity and quality of whale oil. Get compensated for your labor. This new interactive display will be an exciting and educational experience for the whole family.
Every Tuesday – Friday, July 10 – August 31
Family Fun Program ~ Puzzles, crafts and more
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Join us any weekday in the Jacobs Family Gallery for FREE hands-on activities for children of all ages, including floor puzzles and whale magnets Hold real sperm whale teeth and baleen in your hands, all while you marvel at the four whale skeletons overhead.
Family Fun Program ~ Highlights Tour
10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
Join a docent for a 45-minute tour that focuses on the highlights of the Museum’s world class collection. Each tour will leave from the front desk. FREE with Museum admission.
Every Tuesday, July 10 – August 28
Family Fun Program ~ Moby Dick Highlights Tour
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Join a docent for a 45-minute tour that focuses on the highlights of the Museum’s world class collection and Herman Melville’s classic “Moby-Dick”. Each tour will leave from the front desk. FREE with Museum admission.
Every Tuesday, July 10 – August 14
Family Fun Program ~ Science Tuesdays
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Join our high school apprentices in the Jacobs Family Gallery as they examine and explain a variety of marine and whale science topics. These programs feature hands-on learning and keepsakes from the activities.
Every Wednesday, July 11 – August 29
Family Fun Program ~ Scrimshaw
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Be inspired by the Museum's unique collection of scrimshaw. Children will learn about the history of this beautiful craft as they create their own pieces to take home.
Every Thursday, July 12 – August 30
Family Fun Program ~ Sailor's Valentines
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Learn how to make Sailor's Valentines, the traditional gifts whalemen gave their wives and sweethearts upon returning from a voyage. Take your valentine home as a keepsake.
Every Friday, July 13 – August 31
Family Fun Program ~ All aboard the Lagoda!
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Come to the Museum on Fridays to dress as your favorite crewmember and take an imaginary whaling voyage on the Lagoda! Experience the chase, learn the ropes, encounter foreign cultures and learn about Whaling in New Bedford through role playing! FREE with Museum admission.
