Telling the story of the Fishing Industry
—Past, Present and Future.

Now on View!

Open thru December 2025 | Explore the history of the New Bedford Scallop Festival, Working Waterfront Festival, Blessing of the Fleet, and Fishermen’s Memorial Service.

August AHA! Night: Scallopalooza

Watch local fishermen compete for the title of New Bedford’s best shucker! PLUS, enjoy music, food trucks, and fishing industry vendor booths on Bethel Street throughout the evening.

August 14, 2025

UPCOMING EVENTS

July 24, 2025

Working Waterfront with Bill Gerencer

Join FHC and special guest Bill Gerencer on Thursday, July 24, at 7pm for a book talk on his new book, Working Waterfront.

September 27, 2025

Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey September 27 Sail — SOLD OUT

Set sail aboard the historic Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey this September!

September 28, 2025

Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey September 28 Sail — SOLD OUT

Set sail aboard the historic Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey this September!

DOCUMENTING AND PRESERVING OUR COMMUNITY

New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center’s community documentation work preserves and presents the rich history and culture of the local fishing community.

A growing collection of interviews, photographs, documents, video footage, and artifacts captures the experiences and knowledge of generations of fishermen, shoreside workers, and their families, ensuring their stories are passed down to future generations. Many of these materials have been digitized and are uploaded in our online collections database.