New Bedford

Oct 8, 2007 50102 8:12

We are having rain today. We really can't complain it is only the 7th day we have had rain since we left home on July 12. With the rubber roof on the RV it always sounds worse than it is.

Rain is nearly over by the time we reach New Bedford so we start looking for the Visitor Center and a parking place. It seems the Visitor Center is in the middle of town on one-way streets with no parking places for RV. After going the wrong way on a one-way street we finally settle on three parking spots with meters.

The Visitor Center is closed and the volunteers do not know why. We are giving instructions on finding the New Bedford Whaling Museum and head off down there.

The Museum is a complete history on the whaling industry within New Bedford. The story is told in art, artifacts and models. The museum is actually building a ½ scale model of a whaling vessel. There are beautiful works of scrimshaw and pictures of whaling captains and their wives.

We finally get our stamp at the Visitor Center and then head of to the Seamen's Bethel.

The Bethel was built in 1832 and has been used as a school, seamen's register, library and reading room. It still serves the seafaring community of New Bedford while also providing a historical venue for weddings, baptisms, funerals, and memorial services. The Bethel was also mentioned in Herman Melville's "Moby Dick."

Next-door is the Mariner's Home. The Home was built in 1787 as a private residence and then offered to the Port Society to be used as a home for mariners needing a place to stay for a day or two while in port.

Oct 8, 2007

Show all 5 photos