By Rachel A. Dwyer

Exhibit Highlights Sailing to Freedom:

Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad

By Rachel A. Dwyer, Visitor Experience Supervisor, New Bedford Whaling Museum

Anonymous, Sperm Whaling – Stove Boat #1, circa 1835. Watercolor on paper. NBWM # 00.203.49

Commonly understood American historical narratives are often fraught with misconceptions. One such misunderstanding is the idea that the enslaved peoples who were seeking freedom from slavery did so primarily on land. Even the phrase “underground railroad” conveys the idea of a terrestrial path.1

With the expertise and guidance of UMass Dartmouth history professor and author, Timothy D. Walker, Ph.D., New Bedford Historical Society President, Lee Blake, and Whaling Museum Curator, Michael P. Dyer, the New Bedford Whaling Museum’s exhibition Sailing to Freedom: The Maritime Dimensions of

1 Philadelphia abolitionist author William Still titled his book of narratives, The Underground Rail Road. A Book of Facts, Authentic

Narratives, Letters, etc. Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1872. the Underground Railroad provides opportunities for a clearer understanding of historical events. It documents shipboard journeys to emancipation, journeys over water, that many enslaved peoples chose to make as they fled the antebellum American South. It also provides an essential connection to New Bedford’s deep-rooted history in the abolitionist movement. Incorporating carefully selected artifacts and thoughtful text passages this exhibition draws audiences in, connecting them to the challenges that these enslaved peoples faced, and the transportation solutions they chose. Sailing to Freedom imparts historical accuracy while providing a relevant link to New Bedford’s social and maritime history by displaying inspiring persons and artifacts.

Unraveling the tightly held notion that enslaved

peoples primarily escaped slavery on land can be challenging. One simple way to track the movements of these individuals is by runaway slave advertisements posted in newspapers. There are several in the exhibit, and two of these advertisements are included on the Sailing to Freedom take-away brochure. In both examples, maritime travel was the means of escape for the enslaved individuals. Walker references these ads when speaking on his book, the namesake of the exhibit, Sailing to Freedom.2 He or were suspected of doing so.” Considering how difficult traveling on land could be for those seeking freedom, maritime travel is an obvious substitute. Many enslaved individuals that lived near coastal regions in the south worked marine jobs where they learned the skills needed to use these maritime routes to escape their oppression.

Whether it be from word of mouth, advertising, or social media, people are coming to our museum excited to engage with this exhibit. Sailing to Freedom is an example of how our collection and storytelling can connect New Bedford’s maritime and cultural histories. Our institution is a longstanding pillar in New Bedford and it is necessary that our guests can see themselves in our exhibits. Within our community, Black and African American residents make up over 6% of New Bedford’s population. By collecting zip code information from our patrons, we know that many visitors are from the region and seek to explore local history. An integral part of that history is the association between New Bedford and abolitionism. We exist in a time where adversity and inequality are prevalent, therefore we can never stop telling relevant stories that influence our visitors. The care and collaboration that went into creating the captivating and pertinent exhibit that is Sailing to Freedom is inspiring.

As a member of the museum’s Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) task force, I come face to face with many difficult themes and questions pertaining to our museum. What is the community’s expectation of our institution? Are we seen as an accepting and welcoming place in our community? Can our patrons see themselves in our

2 Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground

Railroad, Timothy D. Walker, ed. Amherst and Boston: University of Massachusetts Press, 2021. collection; should they have to? While the answers are not always easy to find, exhibits such as Sailing to Freedom help to break down barriers of all kinds. New Bedford is bountiful in culture, diversity, and tradition and we should use our platform to tell the stories of the communities that we serve.

Walking into the Sailing to Freedom exhibit for the first time, I admired the flow of the exhibit. One of the first paintings that hangs in the gallery is titled, “Sperm Whaling-Stove Boat #1”, which very clearly showcases men of color including both a seaman and an officer.

Many seamen and more specifically, many whalers, were people of color. It was a potentially lucrative, if dangerous job, and a capable and reliable whaleman was valuable regardless of their skin color. As stated in the painting’s label, “the man in the foreground could be anyone from anywhere, as Freedom Seekers often changed their names and place of birth on their shipping documents.” Enslaved individuals seeking emancipation knew that they could establish themselves by working these vessels, and Northern seaports were a destination for many.

Overall, Sailing to Freedom is a remarkable example of how thoughtful research can teach us about our nation’s history. This exhibit uses extensive research, primary sources, and evocative art to bring these real-life tales of endurance and perseverance to life. It clarifies longstanding misconceptions about how enslaved peoples came to free areas, including New Bedford and it cements the New Bedford Whaling Museum as a destination for education and diverse cultural stories.

The Sailing to Freedom exhibit in the Centre Street Gallery, May 20-November 20, 2022.