Moby-Dick Marathon 2025
Download our Museum Guide through Bloomberg Connects to hear a tour by the Melville Scholars.
Embark on an Unforgettable Literary Voyage with Us!
From January 3 to 5, 2025, the New Bedford Whaling Museum invites you to join one of the world’s most renowned readings of Herman Melville’s iconic American novel, Moby-Dick. The Moby-Dick Marathon features a 25-hour read-a-thon from Saturday to Sunday, interspersed with exciting Melville-inspired activities. Enjoy engaging conversations with scholars from the Melville Society Cultural Project (MSCP), live performances, hands-on activities, and more.
Since 1997, the New Bedford Whaling Museum has celebrated the anniversary of Melville’s 1841 departure from the Port of New Bedford and Fairhaven aboard the whaleship Acushnet with this beloved mid-winter tradition.
Start planning your journey now and prepare to join us in 2025 as we hunt for the elusive white whale! Admission to the Museum is free from Saturday, January 4 to Sunday, January 5, for the Moby-Dick Marathon.
All reader slots are currently full. We are now accepting registrations for STANDBY READERS. Click image below to sign up!
2025 Moby-Dick Marathon Seamen's Bethel Seating Lottery
Chapters 7 through 10, including Father Mapple's sermon, are read at Seamen's Bethel across the street from the Museum. Seating is limited and awarded based on a lottery system. Lottery registration closed on Friday, December 20, 2024.
THE MARATHON EXPERIENCE
FRIDAY, JANUARY 3
5:00 pm - 8:00pm
Harbor View Gallery (Upper Level)
MOBY-DICK MARATHON KICK-OFF DINNER
The Melville Society and the New Bedford Whaling Museum Present: Authors Chris Bachelder and Jennifer Habel, co-authors of Dayswork.
Described by the Wall Street Journal as “a supremely literate achievement,” Dayswork is an inventive and introspective novel that explores the intersection of art, marriage, and personal identity. During the pandemic, a woman’s fascination with Herman Melville’s life, his creative process, and his turbulent relationships drives her into a deep exploration of the cost and meaning of dedication. Through her examination of Melville’s impulsive decisions, personal relationships, and creative legacy, she finds herself facing her own reflections on ambition and marriage.
With humor, insight, and poetic precision, Chris Bachelder and Jennifer Habel craft a narrative that seamlessly blends life and literature, history and self-discovery. Join us for a conversation with the authors as they share the inspirations and questions behind this remarkable novel, adding a unique dimension to the Moby-Dick Marathon weekend.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 4
9:30 am Stump the Scholars
Cook Memorial Theater (Lobby)
Bring your burning questions to the Melville Scholars for a lively discussion about Melville’s novels, art, and poetry – plus a chance to earn an “I Stumped the Scholars!” pin.
10:00 am The Little Whalers’ Story Time, Craft-making & Scavenger Hunt
Classroom 1 / Science Classroom (Main Level)
Calling all kiddos! Join us for an hour of story time and craft activities, led by staff from the New Bedford Free Public Library, then go on your own exciting whale scavenger hunt! Prizes available upon completion.
11:25 am Extracts
A Whaling Voyage Around the World / Bourne Building (Main Level)
Read by members of the Melville Society Cultural Project.
12 Noon "Call me Ishmael", the Main Attraction
A Whaling Voyage Around the World / Bourne Building (Main Level)
With the strike of eight bells, the Moby-Dick Marathon begins with those three famous opening words..."Call Me Ishmael."
1:30 pm Father Mapple’s Sermon
Seamen’s Bethel (Reserved seating at Bethel. Livestream at the museum in the Harbor View Gallery).
Reading moves to the Bethel for the Sermon, where reserved seating is available for pre-selected audience. Additional
seating for livestream viewing available in the Harbor View Gallery.
2:00 pm Portuguese Mini-Marathon (PMDM)
Cook Memorial Theater (Lobby)
Dozens of participants at the Museum join together with readers in mainland Portugal, the Azores, Madeira Islands,
and Cape Verde Islands to read the shortened adaptation of Moby-Dick created by Tiago Patricio in Portuguese.
2:10 pm Main Marathon Continues
Harbor View Gallery (Upper Level)
Main Moby-Dick Marathon live reading returns to the Museum.
2:30 pm Chat with Melville Scholars
Research Library (Main Level)
Exclusive access to Melville Scholars to ask them anything and everything Melville!
3:00 pm Make Your Mark
Classroom 2 (ML)
Take a creative pause and craft a personalized bookmark to help keep your place throughout the Marathon.
6:30 pm Cousin Hosea’s Chowder Hall and the Decanter Taproom
Jacobs Family Gallery (Lower Level)
Recharge and warm up with complimentary chowder or purchase other offerings from one of the food and beverage vendors on site.
7:30 pm Midnight on the Forecastle (chapter 40)
Cook Memorial Theater (Lobby)
Chapter 40 is presented and performed by Culture*Park, with Patty Thomas as Director.
8:00 pm Main Marathon Continues
Cook Memorial Theater (Lobby)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 5
8:00 am The 20th-Hour Treat
Jacobs Family Gallery (Lower Level)
Get fueled up for the home stretch. Main Marathon moves back up to the Harbor View Gallery (UL)
9:30 am Chat with Melville scholars
Research Library (Main Level)
Exclusive access to Melville Scholars to ask them anything and everything Melville!
1:00 pm Epilogue
Harbor View Gallery (Upper Level)
Prizes for the hearty souls that make it through the entire night.
*Times are approximate and are dependent on the reading pace of the Marathon.
WATCH THE 2024 EDITION:
The Moby-Dick Marathon is made possible with the support of the following sponsors:
Thank you to our Ishmael Sponsor
Melville SPONSOR
Whalers Crew
