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The logo for Common Ground. A mosaic of different peoples faces throughout the ages.

What's Your Story?

The New Bedford Whaling Museum is collecting stories that help paint the picture of Greater New Bedford. By lending your voice, you will help create the collective story of the community.

Share Your Story

A drawing of a polar bear walking on a tightrope. There are ice caps in the water in the background.

POLAR BEARS (URSUS MARITIMUS) AND THE ARCTIC IMAGINARY

This exhibition showcases a cross-section of extraordinary artworks in order to reveal and explore humankind’s fascination with and relationship towards this vaunted and elusive species.

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An ultrawide painting of a sunset nature scene on a river. There is text that reads: "Re/Framing the View: Nineteenth-Century American Landscapes. October 28, 2022 - May 14, 2023. Wattles Jacobs Gallery, Lower Level.

Re/Framing the View

Go beyond the frame and explore the many meanings of the American landscape, both historically to nineteenth-century viewers and today for twenty-first century audiences.

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A photograph of a highly saturated coral reef with schools of fish swimming in the foreground and background. There is text in the middle that reads "Big blue pictures."

New 3D Theater Experience

Big Blue Pictures, a new immersive 3D theater experience at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, is the first and only 3D theater on the SouthCoast of Massachusetts.

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Whales Today

An exhibition dedicated to the science and behavior of whales, their cultural impact, the current threats to their survival, and empowering all to support conservation efforts.

Dive Deeper

What's Happening

THE WIDER WORLD AND SCRIMSHAW

Tuesday, March 28 | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Join us for a day-long symposium, where renowned and emerging scholars explore the global carving traditions from across the Pacific Rim that were influenced by, sat in conversation with, and had an influence on “Yankee” whaling scrimshaw. The day celebrates international maritime material culture, explores a dynamic global narrative, and dives deep into the Whaling Museum’s Indigenous collections from Oceania, the Pacific Northwest, and Global Arctic.

Learn more here >

Rotating Exhibitions

Check out what's on view right now at the Museum.

Exhibitions

Permanent Exhibitions

Spend an hour or spend a day at the Museum. There is always something to discover.

Heat Waves

Coming Soon

The Museum is always working on the next big exhibit to bring to our guests. Get a sneak peek at what we're creating for you.

Permanent Gallery spotlight 

Whales Today

An exhibition dedicated to the science and behavior of whales, their cultural impact, the current threats to their survival, and empowering all to support conservation efforts.

Online ticketing is now our primary method of selling admission. We have maximum capacity caps in effect at the Museum and tickets are sold on a first-come-first-served basis.

Adventures at sea, science, history, art, cookbooks, kids' books, and more — the Museum store has something for all the book lovers on your list.

Choose from prints available at 1000 Museums, or request prints of artworks in our collection.

Shop all of our gifts. The Museum store has hundreds of items available, you're sure to find the perfect gift for that special someone on your list!