Collections Overview
The Old Dartmouth Historical Society / New Bedford Whaling Museum has been collecting historic artifacts, documents, books, and photographs for over 100 years, it is not surprising that our collections today are large and diverse, comprised of approximately ¾ million items.
Search the Museum's online collections database.
In 2001 the Museum absorbed the former Kendall Whaling Museum, increasing an already voluminous collection by 60% and increasing the percentage of the collection devoted to the history of whaling in the region and beyond, in fact worldwide.
While owning the world’s most comprehensive collection of art, artifacts and original documents of whaling history the Museum also collects broadly in maritime and local history.
Collections include objects across a broad range of categories: fine and decorative art; folk art; photography; domestic artifacts; artifacts that represent the history of technology and industry; books, manuscripts, maps and charts, ethnographic materials, clothing and textiles, and extensive personal, business, and financial records. This is a very diverse and rich social history collection.
The Museum has the world’s foremost collections of:
- Scrimshaw
- Historic whaling prints
- Whaling logbooks and journals
- Dutch Old Master Marine paintings outside the Netherlands & the United Kingdom
- Books and imprints on whaling history
Since 1916 visitors have been invited to climb aboard the Lagoda, the world’s largest ship model, a ½ scale bark.
We also own what is purported to be the world’s longest painting. At 1,275 feet, the 1848 painting of a Whaling Voyage Around the World is currently off exhibit and for which conservation treatments are being developed. Another group of material worthy of note is an extensive collection of paintings by artists William Bradford.
