Permanent Galleries - New Bedford Whaling Museum

Permanent Galleries

Geography, environment and habitat have all contributed to the growth of cultures that hunt whales for food, bones and oil for survival in regions where agriculture is difficult or impossible.

Whales Today

February 18, 2019

An exhibition dedicated to the science and behavior of whales, their cultural impact, the current threats to their survival, and empowering all to support conservation efforts.

Captain Paul Cuffe

September 21, 2018

An exhibition devoted to the life, times, and legacy of Captain Paul Cuffe–an abolitionist, entrepreneur, merchant, whaler, navigator and much more.

East Meets West

October 8, 2017

This exhibition explores the remarkable life and influence of Manjiro Nakahama (1827-1898), the first Japanese person to live in and learn English in the United States.

In Cabo Verde

February 12, 2016

The New Bedford Whaling Museum and City of New Bedford established a long-term collaboration with Cabo Verde aimed at celebrating the cultural and industrial connections between them.

An exhibition dedicated to the science and behavior of whales, their cultural impact, the current threats to their survival, and empowering all to support conservation efforts.

Energy & Enterprise

April 17, 2015

This exhibition highlights the impact of industry on urban development, immigration, and the diverse cultural heritage of this dynamic city.

Harboring Hope

May 15, 2014

This exhibition explores the region of Old Dartmouth from the landing of Bartholomew Gosnold to the dominance of New Bedford in the whaling industry and explores key themes that continue to resonate today.

Grab your passport and experience a new world encountered by New Bedford whalers. Voyages connected world cultures through commerce and helped establish American hegemony in far-flung ports.

Scrimshaw

May 13, 2012

The exhibition presents the scrimshaw itself in all its unique and occupationally rooted glory.

Lagoda

November 23, 1916

Step aboard the spectacular Lagoda, the New Bedford Whaling Museum’s half-scale model of the whaling bark. Built inside the Bourne Building in 1915-16, with funds donated by Emily Bourne in memory of her father, whaling merchant Jonathan Bourne, Jr., Lagoda is the largest ship model in existence.