Museum-minded

by Sean McCarthy

We love to look back. And looking back is important.

New Bedford has a rich and diverse history and the museums of the city enable the community to better understand itself. They are also an opportunity for visitors to appreciate what built this unique historical destination.

The New Bedford experience goes beyond just whaling and fishing, and the city’s museums provide a vital window to the different chapters that tell the story of this 236-year-old city. They are an enjoyable resource for defining who we were, who we are, and who we may become.

There are an array of museums in New Bedford, with many going beyond the traditional offerings to include special events and public programming.

“Museums are places of exploration that encourage everyone to be curious,” says Jennifer Zanolli, Director of Museum

Experience and Community Engagement at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. “Whether you spend an hour or an entire day, it can be a place of discovery.”

“Museums are absolutely essential because of the role they play in creating a social identity for people,” says Timothy D. Walker, a Professor of History at UMass-Dartmouth and a Guest

Researcher at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. “They’re an education and an experience you can’t get in a classroom.”

“Museums are a place that you can go on your own, or it can be a social experience. You can go with family and friends,” says Suzanne de Vegh, Executive Director of the New Bedford Art Museum/Art Works! “You can have this engaging experience that gives you something to think about long after you’ve left. It’s a place where you can feel comfortable and at home and you can’t wait to go back.”

The New Bedford Whaling Museum offers a vast lineup of events and exhibits that go beyond just whaling. They include permanent and rotating galleries aimed at enabling visitors to explore and discover what is to be found in this vibrant region.

Guests may marvel at the five massive whale skeletons and step onto the model of the spectacular whaling ship Lagoda. There are permanent exhibits that are devoted to whales, scrimshaw, Cabo Verde, the extraordinary life of Capt. Paul Cuffe, and more.

Fishing is a vital part of the region’s economy and the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center offers an archive of documents, photographs, and logbooks that preserve the vital history of this industry. They also offer free and low-cost programming such as documentary films, concerts, and educational classes relating to the fishing industry.

“So many people in the city have direct connections to the fishing community, including many school kids,” says Laura Orleans, Executive Director of the Center. “We want to tell the stories of the past, present, and future. It’s important to know where your food comes from and who is getting it from the ocean – the risks they take and the skills and knowledge they have. This is a group of hardworking, resourceful, and resilient people. It’s a huge part of our culture and economy. People have come from all over the world to find work here.”

The New Bedford Art Museum/Art Works! offers more than just a gallery. In addition to the contemporary art that adorns their walls, they have socially engaging programming that features film, dance, poetry, date nights, and live music.

“There are so many different and wonderful experiences that people can have with art,” de Vegh says. “For me, visiting a museum is about engaging intellectually and emotionally. I want to see something that gets my attention, makes me think, engages my senses, and gives me a new perspective on the world.”

Through the looking glass

The Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum, a location that was the home of three wealthy families from 1834 to 1936, is a treat for those interested in local history,

Beginning with William Rotch, Jr., who was considered the “Rockefeller of Whaling,” the house was also owned by Edward Coffin Jones and Mark Duff, who resided there with their families. The house contains preserved rooms such as sleeping chambers, a dining room, a kitchen, and bathrooms. Visitors can see how the families lived with items such as cooking utensils and grooming implements, along with the dolls and toys owned by the children of the families, their writings, and their artworks.

The acre of property also includes a garden with 27 varieties of roses, heritage trees, boxwoods, and a historic green house.

The House & Garden Museum is open seven days a week. From May through October, it offers a wide range of programming for the public, including plays, concerts, yoga, children’s events, lectures and discussions, and more.

Considered the only museum of its kind in New England, the New Bedford Glass Museum offers events such as lectures and curated tours for groups and clubs, including children and college students. The collection features more than 7,000 pieces, from ancient times to the present day, specializing in decorative cut glass, Victorian art glass, window panes, and bottles – high-end artistic glass that is celebrated around the world.

The history of the Underground Railroad and the Abolitionist Movement in New Bedford can be explored at the New Bedford Historical Museum. Located at the Nathan and Polly Johnson House on 21 Seventh Street downtown, guests can visit the first home of the freed slave, orator, and abolitionist Frederick Douglass and his wife Anna Douglass.

The museum focuses on the history and culture of African-Americans, Native Americans, Cape Verdeans, and West Indians in the greater New Bedford area. Tours of the house are available by appointment.

Expanding exhibits

The New Bedford Fire Museum is dedicated to the development of urban firefighting technology, equipment, and organizations. Open from July to September, Monday through Friday, the collection features preserved antique equipment and memorabilia at the station that was built in 1867, and is considered to be the oldest active fire station in the state of Massachusetts.

The Fort Taber-Fort Rodman Military Museum opened in August 2004 and attracts more than 8,500 visitors a year. The venue showcases artifacts from the Revolutionary War through the modern-day battles in Iraq and Afganistan, a tribute to the veterans and servicemembers that includes artifacts, photos, and biographies of local soldiers and veterans.

The Museum of Madeiran Heritage opened in 1999, founded by Joe Sousa out of love for Madeiran culture. Located at the Club of the Blessed Sacrament, the site offers a variety of items that includes embroidery and needlepoint creations, books, pictures, musical instruments, and other souvenirs that have been passed along for generations. The museum is open during the annual Feast of the Blessed Sacrament celebration, and guided tours are available to be booked online.

The New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park has been described as “the appetizer to the entrée of all of the wonderful museums in New Bedford,” a starting point for visitors before they stop at any of the other local museums. The Visitor’s Center offers a 20-minute introductory film which orients guests to the city’s 19th century whaling history and other exhibits. Guests are able to procure a map to get guidance on the sites in the area. In the summer, rangerguided tours are available.

“If you want to understand the community and cultures of New Bedford you should engage in its museums,” Walker says.

Sean McCarthy has been a freelance journalist for 35 years. He lives in New Bedford.