Arts & Culture: Historical

 
AHA! Night
www.ahanewbedford.org
Location: [map]   33 William St.
New Bedford, MA 02740
Phone: 508.264.8859
Email: margiebutler@mac.com
Info: AHA! (Art, History & Architecture) is New Bedford's free Downtown Gallery Night program. AHA! started in July of 1999 and is now in its fifth year. Held on the second Thursday of each month from 5:00 - 9:00 PM. AHA! Night always gives new and repeat visitors alike the chance to explore something new. Whether it be our cobblestone streets and historic buildings,live music, theater or fine art, visitors delight that AHA! has something for everyone.
 

 
Battleship Cove, Fall River
www.battleshipcove.org
Location: [map]   5 Water St.
Fall River, MA 02722



Phone: 508.678.1100
Fax: 508.674.5597
Email: battleship@battleshipcove.org
Info: 4/1-6/30 9am-5pm; 7/1-Labor Day 9am-5:30pm; Labor Day-4/1 9am-4:30pm

Discover Battleship Cove, the world's largest collection of historic naval ships. Tour five National Historic Landmarks: Battleship Massachusetts; Destroyer Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr.; Submarine Lionfish; and PT Boats 617 & 796. Battleship Cove is the Bay State's official memorial for September 11, 2001, WWII, and the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf Wars. Open year-round.

 
Butler Flats Lighthouse
East Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford MA 02744
Location: [map]   East Rodney French Blvd
New Bedford, MA 02744

Info: New Bedford Outer Harbor

Built in 1898, this lighthouse provided navigational guidance for sailors returning from the sea to New Bedford harbor for 80 years. The beacon could be seen for five miles or more. Decommissioned by the Coast Guard in 1978, the thirty-five foot diameter structure was taken over by the city of New Bedford and maintained through private support. The lighthouse was refurbished and on May 30, 1998, the 100th anniversary, the beacon was re-lit.

 
Culture Park
www.culturepark.org
Location: [map]   69 Walden Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Phone: 508.996.0122
Info: Culture Park is a theater and performing arts collaboration engaged in creating theater that is challenging, bold, and innovative. Culture Park highlights the multi-cultural facets of New Bedford and the region and focuses on providing opportunities for area theater and performing artists and playwrights through its workshops, play labs, and film events. For more information contact Rebecca Schade.

 
Fall River Historical Society, The
www.lizzieborden.org
Location: [map]   451 Rock Street
Fall River, MA 02720
Phone: 508.679.1071
Info: The Fall River Historical Society maintains the world's largest collection of artifacts relating to the life and trial of Miss Lizzie A. Borden, defendant in one of the most famous murder cases in American history. Miss Borden, the thirty-two-year-old spinster daughter of prominent Fall River businessman Andrew Borden, was accused of the vicious murders of both her father and his second wife, Abby. In August of 1892, the two were found brutally slain in their Fall River home, their skulls smashed and shattered by what was later determined to be a hatchet-like weapon. The sensational trial which followed made headlines worldwide; it is considered to be the crime of that century. Although Miss Borden was eventually acquitted of both murders, even today the very mention of Lizzie's name can provoke a heated, passionate debatedid she or didn't she?

 
New Bedford Historical Society
www.newbedfordhistory.org
Location: [map]   Nathan and Polly Johnson House - 21 Seventh Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Email: NBHistory@aol.com

 
New Bedford Whaling National Park
www.nps.gov/nebe
Location: [map]   33 Williams Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Phone: 508.996.4095
Fax: 508.999.4459
Info: New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park commemorates the heritage of the world's preeminent whaling port during the 19th century. A variety of cultural landscapes, historic buildings, museum collections, and archives preserve this history and collectively recount the stories of a remarkable era. Created in 1996, the park encompasses 34 acres spread over 13 city blocks and includes a visitor center, the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the Seamen's Bethel,, the schooner Ernestina, and the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum.

We have volunteer led walking tours of historic New Bedford at 10:30, 12:30, and 2:30 daily.

Every Thursday night, from 7 pm-8 pm, we have a special concert series, Thursday Evenings in the Park. On Saturdays we will be having our Maritime Heritage Days with music from 12 pm-1 pm, and a crafts demo from 12 pm-2 pm.
 

 
Schooner Ernestina
www.ernestina.org
Location: [map]   89 North Water Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Contact: Greg Swanzey
Phone: 508-992-4900
Fax: 508-984-7719
Email: Gswanzey@ernestina.org
Info: Schooner Ernestina is a powerful place to teach and a compelling place to learn. The vessel's educational programs and seminars are tailored to meet the specific needs of schools, colleges and other educational and cultural organizations.
 

 
Seamen's Bethel
www.rixsan.com/nbvisit/attract/bethel1.htm
Location: [map]   15 Johnny Cake Hill
New Bedford, MA 02740

Phone: 508.992.3295
Info: During summer months, open 10 am - 4 pm Monday-Saturday, 1 pm - 4 pm on Sunday.

Though not a "museum" in the strict sense of the word, the Seamen's Bethel is living history. From the early part of New Bedford's whaling era to the present day, the Bethel has served as the fishing community's non-denominational house of worship. Built in 1832, the Bethel was made famous as the "Whaleman's Chapel". It was described in Herman Melville's Moby Dick. Melville worshipped there before leaving New Bedford on the whaleship Acushnet in 1841. All are welcome to church services, and tours are available.

 
Somerset Historical Society
www.somerset.k12.ma.us/historicalsociety/
Location: [map]   274 High Street
Somerset, MA 02726
Phone: 508-675-9010

 
Westport Historical Society
www.westporthistory.com
Location: [map]   25 Drift Road (Bell School House)
Westport, MA 02790
Phone: 508-636-6011
Email: westhist@gis.net

 
Zeiterion Theater
www.zeiterion.org
Location: [map]   648 Purchase Street
New Bedford, MA 02741
Phone: 508.994.2900
Info: With a seating capacity for 1,250 patrons, the historic Zeiterion Theater is the largest and oldest performing arts venue in southeastern Massachusetts. A restored vaudeville era theater, the Zeiterion features original wall tapestries, massive chandeliers and a vintage Wurlitzer Theater Organ from the ago of silent film. The theater is truly a visual marvel. The Z, as it is know, offers an event calendar featuring artist from around the world/ The Z is also home to the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra.




 
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