Ongoing Gallery Exhibit: Sea Monsters: Real and Imagined
July 2023 – March 2024; New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center (38 Bethel Street, New Bedford); Included with price of admission
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
Wednesday, May 29 | 5:00-6:00pm | FHC (38 Bethel Street) | Tickets available for purchase: $40/general admission; $32/FHC member admission
Learn how to make a rope trivet or decorative knot key fob with local artist Erika Hamer! Whether you are a knot tying expert or just a beginner, you’ll have a great time at this fun, informative class. 1 hour class with a maximum of 12 participants.
About your instructor: Erika Hamer is a Dartmouth-based artist specializing in marlinspike knotting. Knot tying was a legacy from Erika’s father who taught her to make square knot belts when she was only 10 years old. Erika’s nautical artwork ranges from simple sailor bracelets and key fobs to intricate sea chest beckets (handles).
Click here to purchase tickets: https://bit.ly/3y6NnNp
New Bedford Oysterfest 2024
Saturday, June 15 | 12:00-3:00pm | Cisco Brewers New Bedford (1482 E Rodney French Blvd) | Purchase tickets here!
Join us at Cisco Brewers New Bedford for the very first New Bedford Oysterfest: a showcase of the local aquaculture scene, brought to you by Cisco Brewers and New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center. Indulge in fresh oysters, shucked for you by the growers of some of the region’s best! Sip on craft beers or small batch cocktails as you enjoy live music right on the water.
Tickets
$35 Advance
$40 Last-minute! (Starts June 14)
Your ticket includes:
- Sampling of a half-dozen oysters from local growers shucking and telling their story PLUS discount on additional oysters ($2/oyster)
- One complimentary craft beverage (beer or cocktail can)
- Souvenir shucking knife to bring the oyster experience home
- Live music and a fantastic view
- Proceeds support the Fishing Heritage Center
Whether you’re an oyster aficionado or just aquaculture-curious, you’re not gonna want to miss this epic shellebration!
Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey June Sunset Sail
Saturday, June 29 | 6:00-8:30pm | New Bedford State Pier | Click here to purchase tickets
Set sail aboard the historic Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey this summer with FHC! These public sails are the perfect opportunity for anyone interested in learning about the history of the commercial fishing industry. We invite you to join us this summer for sunset sails departing from New Bedford’s State Pier at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 29. Tickets can be purchased online or in person at the Fishing Heritage Center. The Center is open Thursday – Sunday, 10am-4pm. A portion of the ticket sales support the Center. Remember: FHC members receive a 20% discount!
Click Here to Purchase Tickets
Tickets:
General Admission: $60 adults | $30 kids ages 4-12
FHC Members: $48 adults | $24 kids ages 4-12*
Free for children 3 and under
*Current members for whom we have emails were sent a PROMO code through their email on Thursday, May 16. New members will receive the PROMO code via email within 48 hours of becoming a member. Please contact the Center with any questions at (508) 993-8894.
Please note: Coast Guard regulations require that each passenger, regardless of age, is listed on the ship’s manifest. If you are purchasing multiple tickets, be sure to list each passenger’s name, age, email, phone number, and address.
The schooner was built at the James & Tarr shipyard in Essex, MA as the EFFIE M. MORRISSEY. The 156-foot-long schooner carried Gloucester fishermen to the Grand Banks, Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland in search of cod, haddock, and other species. She later served as an arctic explorer and Cape Verdean packet ship before returning to Massachusetts in 1982 as a gift from the Republic of Cape Verde. After a nearly 20 year restoration, she is sailing once again with Captain Tiffany Krihwan at the helm.