New Bedford Whaling Museum

New Bedford Whaling Museum is a world-renowned maritime museum located in New Bedford, Massachusetts, showcasing the city's rich whaling history and its significance in the global whaling industry. The museum is situated in the historic New Bedford Historic District, near the New Bedford Harbor, and is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution. The museum's collection and exhibitions are supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The museum is also a member of the American Alliance of Museums and the International Council of Museums.

● History

The New Bedford Whaling Museum Society was established in 1903 by a group of New Bedford citizens, including Charles W. Ashley, who aimed to preserve the city's whaling heritage. The society's first museum was located in the Old Dartmouth Historical Society building, but it soon outgrew the space and moved to its current location in 1915. The museum has since undergone several expansions and renovations, including a major renovation in 1988 supported by the National Park Service and the Massachusetts Historical Commission. The museum has also collaborated with other institutions, such as the Whaling Museum of Sag Harbor and the Mystic Seaport, to promote the preservation of whaling history. The museum's history is also closely tied to the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, which was established in 1996 to preserve the city's whaling heritage.

● Collections

The museum's collection includes over 200,000 objects, including whaling artifacts, maritime art, and historic photographs from the Library of Congress and the National Archives. The collection also features a significant number of scrimshaw pieces, including works by Edward Burdett, Lambert Hollis, and Susan Hyde. The museum's collection of whaling equipment and vessels is one of the largest in the world, with examples from the Charles W. Morgan, the Lagoda, and the Dartmouth. The museum has also acquired significant collections from other institutions, including the Peabody Essex Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The collection is supported by the National Maritime Historical Society and the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities.

● Exhibitions

The museum's exhibitions showcase the history of whaling in New Bedford and its impact on the global whaling industry. The exhibitions feature a range of artifacts, including whaling equipment, ship models, and historic photographs from the Getty Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum has also hosted temporary exhibitions, including shows on whaling art, maritime history, and the environmental impact of whaling, in collaboration with institutions such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the World Wildlife Fund. The museum's exhibitions are supported by the National Science Foundation and the Environmental Protection Agency. The museum has also partnered with other institutions, such as the New England Aquarium and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, to promote the conservation of marine mammals.

● Education_and_Research

The museum offers a range of educational programs for students and teachers, including workshops, lectures, and tours, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The museum also conducts research on whaling history and maritime culture, and has published several books and articles on the subject, including works in collaboration with the Harvard University Press and the University of California Press. The museum's research library is one of the largest in the world, with a collection of over 10,000 volumes, including rare books from the Library of Congress and the British Library. The museum has also partnered with other institutions, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, to promote research on marine conservation and sustainability.

● Architecture_and_Facilities

The museum's building is a historic Greek Revival-style structure, designed by Charles Brigham and built in 1847. The building has undergone several renovations and expansions, including a major renovation in 1988 supported by the National Park Service and the Massachusetts Historical Commission. The museum's facilities include exhibition galleries, a research library, and a collections storage area, as well as a museum shop and a cafe. The museum is also accessible to visitors with disabilities, with wheelchair ramps and elevators supported by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The museum's architecture and facilities are supported by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Institute of Architects. The museum has also been recognized for its sustainable design and energy efficiency, with awards from the United States Green Building Council and the Environmental Protection Agency. Category:Museums in Massachusetts