New Bedford Whaling Museum

Address
18 Johnny Cake Hill
New Bedford, MA 02740 United States Get Directions
Phone (508) 997-0046
Events at this venue
Today

  • Forging Independence | Building a Nation

    New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States

    In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, NBWM will open a new suite of conjoined galleries in that explore stories of independence, struggle, and citizenship in the region during the late colonial and early Republican period (1760-1830). Forging Independence | Building a Nation introduces connections between historical events and pressing issues of today, asking visitors to consider what ideas are embodied in the terms and ideas of Independence and Nationhood. Words like patriotism, freedom, taxation, citizenship, liberty, equality, justice, tolerance, and independence serve as keystones within the installation to encourage thoughtful engagement with concepts that transcend the past and directly connect with our present. Associations forged between objects, concepts, and individuals broach insightful civic-minded questions about what it means to be “American.” What did colonial citizens think America should or would be, and how do we today continue to ask those questions and shape that outcome today?

  • Ahab’s Head: American Vengeance

    New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States

    In Ahab’s Head: American Vengeance, a new installation work created for the New Bedford Whaling Museum, Whitman seeks to capture Ahab’s madness and the ominous feeling of dread and inevitable violence that pervades the novel. In this work, Whitman encourages visitors to reflect on how these themes are also mirrored in American society. Hanging sculptural forms made from rope and fabric cast shadows on wall-drawn charts depicting fictitious whaling voyages. Two giant assemblages, one inspired by Ahab and Moby-Dick and the other of the destruction of the ship, the Pequod. Together with a newly created soundscape and weaponry from the Museum collection, Ahab’s Head will place visitors at the center of Ahab’s obsession and offer a meditation on violence in the world of Moby-Dick and beyond.

  • Art Talks! Magda C. Leon

    New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States

    About the Artist: Magda Leon, a Guatemalan-born multidisciplinary artist currently residing in Providence, RI, focuses in printmaking, installation, and social practice art. Leon’s work reflects her bicultural identity, which she cariñosamente (lovingly) refers to as “De aquí y de allá”. Leon is currently working on a multi-year community project and exhibition, Remember: Volver a pasar por el corazón, opening in the fall of 2027. The project celebrates the histories and experiences of the Guatemalan community in the greater New Bedford area and Southcoast---drawing connections between ancient communal practices and contemporary experiences of migration, exploring the universal pursuit for belonging and community.

    Free

  • Latin Jazz Night: Salsa & Social Dance

    New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Experience the infectious rhythms of Latin Jazz at the New Bedford Whaling Museum! On this First Friday, Jesús Andujar y Su Grupo Sazón bring a high-energy, six-piece orchestra performing Salsa, Cha Cha, Merengue, and Latin Jazz that will keep you moving all night. The evening begins with Museum doors opening at 5:00 PM, followed by live music at 6:00 PM in the Harbor View Gallery. While the focus is on the music, an ample open dance floor with a dance leader will give guests the chance to learn basic steps and move to the beat. Come for the music, stay for the energy, and immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Latin Jazz! ABOUT THE BAND Jesús Andujar, born in the Dominican Republic, developed his extraordinary sense of rhythm and percussion while working on farms, where he honed his timing, tempo, and ear for music through everyday work with percussive tools. His natural talent led him to perform with bands across the Dominican Republic, where he became recognized as a master percussionist. Jesús later moved to New York City to study at the prestigious New York Collective Drumming School, learning from renowned artists including Bobby Sanabria, Ricky Sebastian, and Mike […]

  • LIFELONG LEARNING: Short-course in the History of Photography, 1839-1900

    LIFELONG LEARNING: Short-course in the History of Photography, 1839-1900

    New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Co-Led by Naomi Slipp, Douglas and Cynthia Crocker Endowed Chair for the Chief Curator & Director of Museum Learning; Marina Dawn Wells, Assistant Curator of History & Culture This unique virtual course combines six weekly 80-minute sessions of lecture and discussion, with a culminating hands-on workshop at the Museum. Learn what photography is and how it transformed the world directly from experts in the field using the vast resources of the NBWM photography collection as your study materials. Everyone walks around today with a camera in our pocket. But that was not always the case. Our world is saturated with photographic images – from magazine covers and Facebook feeds to Instagram and billboards–but have you ever stopped to wonder how these images work, what they are trying to say to you, or what histories they may connect with? This course introduces life-long learners to the history of photography, from the invention of the medium in 1839 to the birth of Kodak and snapshot photography in 1900. Photographs will be studied as art objects and historical artifacts. Themes include technological innovations; debates between art photography, commercial photography, and documentary photography; government and private patronage; individual or collective endeavors; original and published […]

  • LOCAL HISTORY GUILD | Revolution in Old Dartmouth

    New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 5:30 pm on Zoom As the U.S. marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War, local historians have delved deeply into the history of the Revolution in Old Dartmouth. Different approaches reveal new and exciting stories related to the 1770s and 1780s in the areas now called Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Fairhaven, and Acushnet. Join us this March at a virtual program to discuss their projects and the stories they have uncovered. Local History Guild is the NBWM’s quarterly Zoom program, an informal discussion about art, history, science and culture related to the museum’s mission, collection, and the surrounding region. In this edition of the program, we will be joined by Jenny O'Neill (Executive Director, Westport Historical Society), Diane Gilbert (President, Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust), Jonathan Lane (Executive Director, Revolution 250), and Judith Lund (Curator Emerita, New Bedford Whaling Museum) in a discussion that will help listeners take a deeper dive into the past.

    Free
  • LIFELONG LEARNING: Short-course in the History of Photography, 1839-1900

    LIFELONG LEARNING: Short-course in the History of Photography, 1839-1900

    New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Co-Led by Naomi Slipp, Douglas and Cynthia Crocker Endowed Chair for the Chief Curator & Director of Museum Learning; Marina Dawn Wells, Assistant Curator of History & Culture This unique virtual course combines six weekly 80-minute sessions of lecture and discussion, with a culminating hands-on workshop at the Museum. Learn what photography is and how it transformed the world directly from experts in the field using the vast resources of the NBWM photography collection as your study materials. Everyone walks around today with a camera in our pocket. But that was not always the case. Our world is saturated with photographic images – from magazine covers and Facebook feeds to Instagram and billboards–but have you ever stopped to wonder how these images work, what they are trying to say to you, or what histories they may connect with? This course introduces life-long learners to the history of photography, from the invention of the medium in 1839 to the birth of Kodak and snapshot photography in 1900. Photographs will be studied as art objects and historical artifacts. Themes include technological innovations; debates between art photography, commercial photography, and documentary photography; government and private patronage; individual or collective endeavors; original and published […]

  • SECRET MALL APARTMENT – Film Screening & Panel Discussion

    New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Step into one of the most extraordinary urban legends of the 21st century. In 2003, eight Rhode Island artists secretly transformed a hidden space inside Providence Place Mall into a fully furnished 750-square-foot apartment. For four years, they lived undetected, filmed their daily lives, and created a private sanctuary that doubled as a work of public and private art—defying gentrification, corporate oversight, and convention. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Jeremy Workman (Lily Topples the World) and executive produced by Jesse Eisenberg, SECRET MALL APARTMENT reveals never-before-seen footage and, for the first time, the identities of all eight participants. The film is more than a wild prank—it’s a compelling story of art, resistance, and self-expression. From smuggling furniture and cinderblocks to volunteering and creating large-scale art projects, the participants’ ingenuity and dedication are inspiring. The film has also garnered extraordinary success on Netflix, rising to the 4th most watched film in North America and cracking the top 10 globally. Post-Screening Panel Discussion & Q&A Join moderator Dante Bellini, Jr. and these esteemed participants for a discussion about the film and the making of the apartment, the creative process, and the legacy of this audacious art project. Audience questions are welcome in this […]

  • Navy Day at the New Bedford Whaling Museum

    New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Join us for Navy Day, hosted in partnership with the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport! This exciting day of hands-on exploration highlights the Navy’s vital role in marine research, environmental preservation, and marine mammal protection while showcasing the Museum’s rich maritime history. 🔹 Engage with NUWC scientists and discover cutting-edge underwater research. 🔹 Explore whale ecology and see our massive whale skeletons up close. 🔹 Board the world’s largest ship model and embark on a scavenger hunt. 🔹 Experience stunning underwater worlds with 3D film screenings in the Cook Memorial Theater. 🔹 Participate in various hands-on activities with the program partners. Free admission for all valid Department of Defense (DoD) ID card holders, veterans, and their families. Don't miss this unique opportunity to connect with science, history, and the sea!

  • LIFELONG LEARNING: Short-course in the History of Photography, 1839-1900

    LIFELONG LEARNING: Short-course in the History of Photography, 1839-1900

    New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Co-Led by Naomi Slipp, Douglas and Cynthia Crocker Endowed Chair for the Chief Curator & Director of Museum Learning; Marina Dawn Wells, Assistant Curator of History & Culture This unique virtual course combines six weekly 80-minute sessions of lecture and discussion, with a culminating hands-on workshop at the Museum. Learn what photography is and how it transformed the world directly from experts in the field using the vast resources of the NBWM photography collection as your study materials. Everyone walks around today with a camera in our pocket. But that was not always the case. Our world is saturated with photographic images – from magazine covers and Facebook feeds to Instagram and billboards–but have you ever stopped to wonder how these images work, what they are trying to say to you, or what histories they may connect with? This course introduces life-long learners to the history of photography, from the invention of the medium in 1839 to the birth of Kodak and snapshot photography in 1900. Photographs will be studied as art objects and historical artifacts. Themes include technological innovations; debates between art photography, commercial photography, and documentary photography; government and private patronage; individual or collective endeavors; original and published […]

  • Author Book Talk Eric Jay Dolin, Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution (W.W. Norton, 2022)

    New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States

    About the Author: Eric Jay Dolin is the author of seventeen books, including Leviathan: The History of Whaling in America; A Furious Sky: The Five-Hundred-Year History of America’s Hurricanes; Black Flags, Blue Waters: The Epic History of America’s Most Notorious Pirates; and Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution. His forthcoming book (June 2, 2026), is The Wreck of the Mentor: A True Story of Death, Despair, and Deliverance in the Age of Sail. Dolin's books have won many awards including the John Lyman Award for U.S. Maritime History; Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award; National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Excellence in American History Book Award for Adult Nonfiction; Samuel Eliot Morison Book Award for Naval Literature; L. Byrne Waterman Book Award for Outstanding Contributions to Research and Pedagogy in the Arts, Humanities, and Sciences; James P. Hanlan Book Award; and the Outdoor Writers Association of America Book Award. Many of his books have been chosen as “must reads” by the Massachusetts Center for the Book. Other honors include being chosen as a finalist for the Kirkus Prize, and as one of the best books of the year by The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The Washington […]

    Free
  • LIFELONG LEARNING: Short-course in the History of Photography, 1839-1900

    LIFELONG LEARNING: Short-course in the History of Photography, 1839-1900

    New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Co-Led by Naomi Slipp, Douglas and Cynthia Crocker Endowed Chair for the Chief Curator & Director of Museum Learning; Marina Dawn Wells, Assistant Curator of History & Culture This unique virtual course combines six weekly 80-minute sessions of lecture and discussion, with a culminating hands-on workshop at the Museum. Learn what photography is and how it transformed the world directly from experts in the field using the vast resources of the NBWM photography collection as your study materials. Everyone walks around today with a camera in our pocket. But that was not always the case. Our world is saturated with photographic images – from magazine covers and Facebook feeds to Instagram and billboards–but have you ever stopped to wonder how these images work, what they are trying to say to you, or what histories they may connect with? This course introduces life-long learners to the history of photography, from the invention of the medium in 1839 to the birth of Kodak and snapshot photography in 1900. Photographs will be studied as art objects and historical artifacts. Themes include technological innovations; debates between art photography, commercial photography, and documentary photography; government and private patronage; individual or collective endeavors; original and published […]

Be the First to Know What’s Happening

Get monthly updates on art walks, festivals, food pop-ups, and more.

Photo Credit: Josh Souza