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 […]

  • Boundless: The Book as Art

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

    What is a book? In its simplest form, it is a repository of words, images, information, or ideas but how can a book be reinterpreted or altered and still be a book? Where is “art” in bookmaking? How do design, structure, and materiality relate to the book as art? These questions underlie Boundless: The Book as Art, a major exhibition in the Wattles Family Gallery opening in October 2026. The New Bedford Whaling Museum has over 20,000 books in its collection that range from rare folios, first editions and scrolls to scrapbooks, journals, logbooks, and artist books. Spanning nearly 500 years, these works were printed around the globe and in dozens of languages and cover topics as diverse as shipbuilding, natural history and global exploration to visual arts, poetry and literature. In Boundless, a variety of book formats from the Museum collection are placed in conversation with works from contemporary artists including Andrea Dezsö (b. 1968), Melanie Mowinski (b. 1970), Anneli Skaar (b. 1969), and Tracey Cockrell who transform and rethink the idea and format of the book. When exhibited alongside historic books, these contemporary works—complex and varying in structure and design—create a dialogue around the boundaries of traditional book […]

  • 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 […]

  • Author Book Talk: Janna Malamud Smith

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

    Thursday, October 29 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Free, virtual program; registration required About the Author: Janna Malamud Smith is a writer and psychotherapist. She is the author of five books, Private Matters: In Defense of the Personal Life (1997) and A Potent Spell: Mother Love and the Power of Fear (2003), were chosen as “Notable Books” by The New York Times Sunday Book Review, My Father is a Book: A Memoir of Bernard Malamud (2006), was selected as a Washington Post Best Book of the Year, and a New York Times Editor’s Choice, An Absorbing Errand: How Artists and Craftsmen Make Their Way to Mastery, and When the Island Had Fish: The Remarkable Story of a Maine Fishing Community. Her articles and essays have appeared nationally and internationally in newspapers, magazines and literary journals including The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The International Herald Tribune, The Christian Science Monitor, American Scholar, Family Circle and The Threepenny Review, and she writes regularly for Cognoscenti, an opinion website for WBUR a Boston NPR station. She studied American History and Literature in college, and then pursued a graduate degree in clinical social work. She is mostly retired from clinical practice […]

  • National Authors’ Day 2026

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

    Celebrate National Authors’ Day at the New Bedford Whaling Museum National Authors’ Day, observed each year on November 1, is dedicated to recognizing the writers whose work educates, entertains, and preserves our cultural heritage. In honor of the day, the New Bedford Whaling Museum invites visitors to celebrate the authors who illuminate maritime history, whaling traditions, and coastal life through their words and illustrations. Throughout the day, explore a special pop-up book sale in the Jacobs Family Gallery featuring a thoughtfully curated selection from the Museum Store. Titles will include maritime history, whaling adventures, regional and coastal culture, and illustrated books for both children and adults—perfect for history enthusiasts, families, and lifelong learners alike. Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet select authors in person, hear about the research and inspiration behind their work, and have books signed during the event. These informal encounters offer a unique chance to connect directly with the storytellers and scholars who help bring the Museum’s collections and New Bedford’s seafaring past to life. All activities are included with regular Museum admission. Join us in celebrating the power of storytelling and discover the voices that continue to shape our understanding of the sea and […]

  • Celebrate National Authors Day with Write With Community!

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

    Celebrate National Authors Day with Write With Community at the New Bedford Whaling Museum! Sunday, November 1, 2026 | 11:00 AM–2:00 PM Join us for a special two-part gathering featuring local authors Gail Braccidiferro MacDonald, Elizabeth Sylvia, and Melinda Green, Marjory O’Toole & Linda Coombs. Part One offers an opportunity to hear from local authors about their writing practices and connect through conversation. Part Two invites participants to explore writing through place, play, and creative discovery in a New Bedford Place-Based Experiential Workshop. Open to the public; all skill levels are welcome.

  • 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 […]

  • First Friday: The Art of Hip Hop

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

    Experience the artistry, rhythm, and creative force of hip hop culture during this special First Friday evening at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Through music, dance, spoken word, and visual expression, this program celebrates hip hop as a dynamic and evolving art form—one that bridges generations and communities through storytelling, movement, and sound. Featuring live performances curated in partnership with 3rd EyE Unlimited, the evening will highlight local and regional talent, including young adults and emerging artists who embody the spirit of creativity, collaboration, and social connection at the heart of hip hop. Enjoy a night of movement and music with a live DJ, dance showcases, and interactive art demonstrations, all set against the backdrop of New Bedford’s historic waterfront in the Museum’s Harbor View Gallery. A cash bar (must present ID) and light refreshments will be available throughout the evening. Program Schedule: 5:00 PM – Doors open; bar and galleries available for browsing 6:00 PM – DJ set: The soundscape of hip hop 6:30 PM – Dance performance featuring local youth and community artists 7:00 PM – Spoken word and graffiti art showcase (presented digitally) 8:00 PM – Collaborative performance: “The Movement of Expression” 8:30 PM – Closing community […]

  • 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 […]