New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park - Activities

Plan to spend a full day at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. Start your visit at the National Park Service visitor center where a park ranger or volunteer can help you plan your day. There are several self-guided walking maps available. The National Park Service Map and Guide for New Bedford Whaling NHP can be downloaded from this website using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Be sure to visit the New Bedford Whaling Museum where the Park's official orientation movie "The City that Lit the World" is shown daily in the museum's theatre, the Seamen's Bethel, the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum, the Wharfinger Fish Auction Building (Waterfront Visitor Center) and see a working waterfront, the Schooner Ernestina (if it is not at sea), and other attractions in the area.

National Park Service Walking Tour: Guides offer daily one hour walking tours during the summer months. During other times of the year walking tours may be available on weekends. Check at the Visitor Center for times of these tours. The park also operates a bookstore located in the Visitor Center. Eastern National, a non-profit cooperating association that returns an annual profit directly to the park, is responsible for book sales in the park.