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?

  • Proteanna: Susan Heideman

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

    Artist Susan Heideman (b. 1950) has explored bio-morphic shapes of the ocean’s “in-between entities” for nearly twenty years in her Proteanna series and beyond. The real and imagined floating, aqueous shapes of her work evoke the forms of invertebrate creatures that often remind us of primordial beings living in the depths of the sea. The colorful hand embroidered large scale works that define the Proteanna series are “hybrid” in nature and include a mix of older works combined with newer paintings and constructions. The texture and layering create an almost three-dimensional experience that transport the visitor into a wondrous underwater world of possibility. Artist Statement: In 2006 the Proteanna Series began with an experiment. For the first time, using black embroidery thread, I tried stitching imagery into an existing watercolor I’d always felt lacking. The piece seemed to come alive. Suddenly the idea of combining stitching, watercolor and other aqueous media on larger sheets of thick watercolor paper had become entrancing. I began tearing up random, ragged fragments of my old monotypes and stitching them onto the paper. I continued stitching, painting, and layering, attaching collaged pieces strictly through stitching. This was the beginning of the ongoing Proteanna Series. I […]

  • Sailors’ Valentines: Maritime Art from the Heart

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

    Shellwork mosaics, known as sailor’s valentines, consist of colorful shells in intricate arrangements housed in octagonal wooden boxes. Created primarily between 1830 and 1890, their designs incorporate hearts, flowers, and nautical symbols like anchors and compass roses. Sometimes they carry romantic messages written out in tiny shells. Despite their name, sailor’s valentines were not made by sailors at sea. Instead, they were produced for the tourist trade by Barbadian women from locally sourced shells. In the 1800s, Barbados, located at the easternmost part of the Caribbean, was a center of maritime supply and distribution. US ships often stopped at the small island, where sailors purchased keepsakes, like valentines, for loved ones at home. This cottage industry for locally made goods provided crucial economic opportunities for women of a color under British colonial occupation. The Slavery Abolition Act came into effect in Barbados in 1834, and previously enslaved Barbadians needed work. While Barbadian men traveled and labored off island, women provided for their families. Shellwork craft production was a lifeline. The popularity of sailor’s valentines emerged concurrent with the rise of a new scientific discipline – conchology, or the study of shells, the popular pastime of amateur shell collecting, and the […]

  • First Fridays: Brass, Sass and Serious Fun!

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

    Friday, September 4, 2026 | Doors at 5:00 PM and Music Program at 6:00 PM Kick off your Labor Day weekend at the New Bedford Whaling Museum with an evening of art, culture, and high-energy live music as part of our popular First Fridays series. Enjoy full Museum access and explore the galleries at your leisure before the music begins. Live Music performance by The Catnip Junkies Band starts at 6:00 PM in the Harbor View Gallery. Brass, sass, and serious fun! The Catnip Junkies bring genre-defying, New Orleans–style grooves with a playful, party-ready vibe. Happy, tappy, and brassy, this is definitely not your ordinary cover band. Infused with the infectious energy of New Orleans street bands, The Catnip Junkies mix stylized pop covers, Tin Pan Alley classics, and traditional jazz favorites—complete with hilarious antics that guarantee engagement and entertainment from start to finish. With contagious joy, The Catnip Junkies always delivers excitement that elevates any occasion, promising a truly memorable First Friday. About First Fridays First Fridays at the New Bedford Whaling Museum offer a vibrant after-hours experience blending art, history, culture, music, and community. Each month features special gallery access, live entertainment, and a relaxed social atmosphere. Cash […]

  • 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 […]

  • 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 […]

  • 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 […]

  • SouthCoast Neighborhood Builders: Introduction to Incremental Development

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

    Who will build New Bedford's future? We think local, incremental developers are the right people for the job. ​Most people sense that something is wrong with how we build our communities. Housing feels out of reach, downtowns struggle to thrive, and development often seems risky, disconnected, and reserved for only the biggest players… But it wasn't always this way. ​Join us for an engaging introduction to incremental development — the traditional pattern that created America's most beloved neighborhoods through small, locally driven projects built one step at a time. ​Whether you're interested in becoming a small-scale developer, creating a project in your own neighborhood, or are a local leader looking to encourage better growth in your community, this free public lecture will explore how our development systems changed after World War II and what practical alternatives exist today. You'll discover how incremental development can lower risk, rebuild local ownership, and create more adaptable, resilient communities — one small project at a time. ​About the speaker: Marques King is an architect, urban designer, and Detroit native who has spent his career building sustainable, equitable neighborhoods in his hometown — as Economic Development & Design Manager for EJDevCo, a nonprofit developer focused […]

    Free

  • Author Book Talk: Seth Rockman

    New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States +1 more

    Thursday, September 24 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Free, virtual program; registration required About the Author: Seth Rockman is a historian of the United States focusing on the period between the American Revolution and the Civil War and serves as George L. Littlefield Professor of American History and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of History at Brown University. His research unfolds at the intersection of slavery studies, labor history, material culture studies, and the history of capitalism. Rockman’s earlier work— the award-winning Scraping By: Wage Labor, Slavery, and Survival in Early Baltimore (2009) and the co-edited volume Slavery’s Capitalism: A New History of American Economic Development (2016)— sought to better understand the relationship of slavery and capitalism in the American past. In December 2022, Rockman shared his research findings with the US House Financial Services Committee in live testimony. Rockman’s newest book, Plantation Goods: A Material History of American Slavery, was published by University of Chicago Press in Fall 2024 and named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History. The book won the 2025 Philip Taft Labor History Book Award, earned distinction as a finalist for the Mark Lynton History Prize, and appears on the longlist […]

  • 29th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival

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

    ONE WORLD - ONE WEEK - ONE FESTIVAL Experience the 29th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival at the Whaling Museum Thursday, September 24, 2026 | Doors: 5:30 PM & Screening: 6:00 PM Step into the global spotlight as the Whaling Museum proudly hosts the 29th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival, uniting over 100,000 film enthusiasts across 400 venues on six continents. Be part of the excitement as we screen a selection of world-class short films and cast your vote to decide the coveted awards for Best Film and Best Actor. Enjoy the magic of cinema like never before with theater-quality projection in the Cook Memorial Theater, bringing every frame to life with stunning clarity and vibrant detail. What makes this festival truly extraordinary? Each short film earns automatic Oscar qualification, making MANHATTAN SHORT the ultimate stage for celebrating visionary directors and captivating performances. Your vote matters, and the winners will be revealed at ManhattanShort.com after the festival concludes. Don’t miss this unforgettable evening of creativity, inspiration, and cinematic brilliance.

  • 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 […]

  • Art Talks! Adrian R. Tió

    New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States +1 more

    Friday, October 2, 12:00-1:00pm Free, virtual program; registration required Online series featuring conversations with artists working on projects with or at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. About the artist: The artist was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to parents who had emigrated from the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico. Tió received his fine arts training from the University of Cincinnati (M.F.A. 1979) and Temple University (B.A. 1974) as well as post-baccalaureate study with the Tyler School of Art in Rome, Italy (1975-76). The artist has exhibited nationally as well as regionally in printmaking, drawing, and painting for over 50 years, and has conducted workshops on mural painting, papermaking and the book arts. Tió has received recognition for his work through exhibition awards and creative research grants from Arts Midwest/NEA, Indiana Arts Commission, Indiana State University Arts Endowment, Ohio Arts Council, New Forms Regional Grant Program, Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, and Bowling Green State University. Residing in Mattapoisett, MA, Tió is a retired Professor of Fine Arts having served on the faculties at Bowling Green State University, Indiana State University, Northern Illinois University, and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Tió presently maintains Hare of the Dog Press & Studio in […]