Maritime history has always been an interest of mine, probably because of the time I've spent at the helm. I don't agree in any way with whaling, but like other tales and relics of our past they are our history and they should remain important in that we see where we have come from. I loved the history presented here and was amazed that these whale skeletons though devoid of tissue for almost a decade are still dripping oil onto the floor of the museum.
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| New Bedford Harbor |
New Bedford is nicknamed "The Whaling City" due to its being the most important whaling port in the World during the 19th Century, along with Nantucket. Though we disagree with whaling adamantly today, during its time whale oil was a important commodity. This community was home to many sailors who braved the seas and sailed from this port to others around the world. This museum is a beautiful testament to the time period.
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| Whale skeletons at Whaling Museum |
The Seamen's Bethel was built for the sailors of New Bedford many made it a matter of tradition to visit the chapel before setting sail. The bethel was immortalized in Melvil's novel Moby Dick as the "Whaleman's Chapel" where a nautically themed sermon is given from the bow shaped pulpit.
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| Seaman's Bethel with pulpit bow of ship |
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| New Bedford Harbor with numerous scallop boats |
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| replica of whaling ship |
As we entered the Whaling Museum we saw the 1/2 scale replica of a whaling vessel and on its deck was a quartet of men signing the sea going ditty of "What do you do with a drunken Sailor " and its verses describing how to punish a sailor who showed up to work in a drunken state. The sights and sound took you back to a moment when the sailors of that era went to sea .
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| New Bedford Harbor from Whaling Museum |
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| New Bedford street |
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| from Seamen's Bethel |
