Fishing Heritage Center Closed to the Public
Friday, March 8 | All Day | FHC (38 Bethel Street, New Bedford)
New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center will be closed to the public all day on Friday, March 8, for a private event. The Center will resume normal public visiting hours on Saturday, March 9.
Special Program: Unusual Catch Day
Saturday, March 9 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm | FHC (38 Bethel Street, New Bedford) | FREE
An FHC tradition is back! Fish are not the only things that come up in a fisherman’s net. Fishermen routinely pull up a variety of objects, including glass bottles and fine china, wreckage from sunken ships, unexploded bombs, and even real life sea monsters! Stop by the Center on Saturday, March 9, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm and bring your own unusual catches or view others’ at FHC’s version of Antiques Roadshow. Maritime archeologists will be on had to help shed light on these interesting finds. Public welcome!
March AHA! Night: Herstory
Thursday, March 14 | 6:00pm | FHC (38 Bethel Street, New Bedford) | FREE
Celebrate Women’s History Month at FHC! Join us on March 14 to learn about Herstory, an intergenerational oral history project pairing high school and college students with older women with ties to New Bedford’s fishing community. Meet project participants and hear stories from the working waterfront, past and present.
Funding for Herstory is made possible through the generous support of the Association for the Relief of Aged Women and Women’s Fund SouthCoast.
March Dock-u-mentaries: Saving New England Fisheries
Friday, March 15 | 7:00PM | New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park (33 William Street, New Bedford) | FREE
Join us for the final Dock-u-mentary film screening of the Fall/Winter series! Saving New England Fisheries is a 2016 documentary film that explores the rise and fall of the Atlantic Cod fishery in the Gulf of Maine, and follows the fishermen, scientists, environmentalists, and local restaurateurs who are fighting to save this famous New England species. Duration: 56 minutes.
Dock-u-mentaries are free and are hosted in the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park auditorium at 33 William Street in Downtown New Bedford.
Register here: https://bit.ly/3SI5PT0
Questions? Contact programs@fishingheritagecenter.org or call (508) 993-8894
Swordfishing on the SouthCoast
Thursday, April 11 | 5:00-8:00pm | FHC (38 Bethel Street, New Bedford) | FREE
FHC invites you to the opening of our newest exhibit, Stand Clear the Line: Swordfishing on the SouthCoast, on Thursday, April 11. Explore the fascinating world of commercial swordfishing and discover the stories of the people who sailed in search of swordfish. The exhibit will open to the public at 5:00pm. Then at 6:00pm, members of the public will be invited to hear first-hand from local New Bedford fishermen about their experiences catching swordfish on New England’s SouthCoast. The exhibit will be on display until September 30, 2024.
Stand Clear the Line: Swordfishing on the SouthCoast and related programming are supported by Eversource, the Westport Cultural Council Community Grants, A local agency supported by the Helen E. Ellis Charitable Trust administered by the Bank of America and the Westport Community Gift Fund, grants from the Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, and Westport Cultural Councils, as well as the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Ongoing Gallery Exhibit: Stand Clear the Line: Swordfishing on the SouthCoast
April 2024 – September 2024 | New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center (38 Bethel Street, New Bedford) | Included with price of admission
Our newest gallery exhibit explores the fascinating world of commercial swordfishing. Swordfish have been an important fishery for New England for over 200 years, and this majestic fish continues to capture the imagination of fishermen from coast to coast. Explore the history of commercial swordfishing from the age of tall ships to modern times and discover the people who sailed in search of swordfish. This exhibit features a restored swordfish pulpit, harpoons and darts, models and decorated swordfish bills, photographs and video footage, and oral histories from some of Massachusetts’ swordfishing families. On display until September 29, 2024.
This exhibit and related programming are supported by grants from the Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, and Westport Cultural Councils, as well as the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Eversource and the Westport Cultural Council Community Grants, A local agency supported by the Helen E. Ellis Charitable Trust administered by the Bank of America and the Westport Community Gift Fund.
April Vacation Camp: Go Fish Camp
April 15 – April 18 | 9:00am – 3:00pm | New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park (33 William Street, New Bedford) | Application period now CLOSED
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center are pleased to announce Go Fish Camp, a FREE camp opportunity during April school vacation week for New Bedford Public School students currently enrolled in the 4th grade. Campers will spend a week learning about four of New Bedford’s fisheries: groundfish, lobsters, scallops, and oysters through hands-on science demos, art activities, and field trips to FHC and the New Bedford waterfront. Camp will primarily take place at the National Park’s Corson Maritime Learning Center (33 William Street).
The 2024 application portal is now closed.
Into the Archives
Thursday, May 9 | 5:00-7:00pm | FHC (38 Bethel Street, New Bedford) | FREE
This AHA! Night, explore rarely-seen objects and photographs from our archival collection. FHC’s archivist will also be on-hand to answer questions and discuss the Center’s new online collection database.
Then at 7pm, enjoy Irish Traditional music with the New Bedford Catalpa Ceilidh Band, led by Colin Everett (Golden Lane) on Uilleann pipes in our parking lot! This event will move inside the Fishing Heritage Center if the weather deems necessary.
Please Note: FHC’s parking lot will be CLOSED for the duration of the evening.
Maritime Knot Class with Erika Hamer — CANCELED
June AHA! Night: An Evening of Oysters
Thursday, June 13 | 7:00-8:00 PM | FHC (38 Bethel Street) | Free Admission
Join FHC and special guest Dr. Dale Leavitt of Blue Stream Shellfish/West Island Oysters for an evening of oysters! The oyster has been a staple in local consumer’s diets for eons. Come learn about the oyster’s history followed by a discussion of modern ways of growing oysters in our region. While you’re here, be sure to pick up your tickets for New Bedford’s first Oysterfest, happening on Saturday, June 15th at Cisco Brewers New Bedford. We promise you’ll have a shuckin’ good time!
From developing diets for lobsters in Maine during the 70s and leading the Sea Grant Extension program at Woods Hole to developing the Shellfish Program at Roger Williams University, Dr. Dale Leavitt is known for his knowledge of bivalves aka oysters. For over four decades, Dr. Leavitt has been immersed in aquaculture. His expertise in the science behind the shuck allows West Island Oysters and Blue Stream Shellfish to raise a superior oyster.
