Home - New Bedford Whaling Museum
Crowd gathered on a rocky shore watching a large sailing ship stranded on rocks near the coastline.

Local History Guild: Shipwrecks!

Local History Guild is the NBWM’s quarterly Zoom program, an informal discussion about art, history, science and culture related to the museum’s mission, collection, and the surrounding region. Amid the height of hurricane season, this program will bring the history of shipwrecks to the surface—in our local waters of Buzzard’s Bay, as well as more generally in the Atlantic and elsewhere.

 

Learn More

Moby Dick Book Club

Join the Moby-Dick Book Club, a virtual three-part series exploring Herman Melville’s iconic American novel. Whether you’re reading it for the first time or returning to it with fresh eyes, all are welcome to take part in engaging, thought-provoking conversations led by some of the world’s leading Melville scholars.

 

Learn More

Exhibition graphic with colorful abstract shapes and the words ‘Contemporary Cape Verdean, New Bedford Whaling Museum.

Cape Verdean Contemporary

Join us for the opening of two new exhibits celebrating Cape Verdean culture and community. Claridade highlights contemporary Cape Verdean art exploring identity and migration, while Morabeza shares stories, photos, and traditions from the Cape Verdean community in New England. Together, they honor 50 years of independence and a vibrant cultural legacy.

Learn More

Free Bloomberg Connects Guide App

Take your visit to the next level with our Bloomberg Connects digital guide featuring audio tours, item descriptions, deeper insights, and more! Available in more than 30 languages, and features over 300 museums.

 

Learn More

Upcoming Programs

Get swept up in the sound as the KabuJazz Ensemble takes the stage at the Whaling Museum’s First Friday. Led by the dynamic vocalist Candida Rose Baptista with musical direction by J. L. Santos Spencer, this acclaimed group blends Cape Verdean rhythms with jazz, soul, and energy that will move you all night long.

According to Alan Jamieson’s book Out of the Depths: A History of Shipwrecks, UNESCO estimates there are more than 3 million shipwreck sites around the world. In every seafaring culture, shipwrecks have long captured the imagination. This September, the New Bedford Whaling Museum hosts a discussion about shipwrecks on our own shores and beyond.

Sharing the art, craft, and science of knotting through hands-on workshops and demonstrations, in collaboration with the International Knot Tyers Guild.

Moby-Dick Book Club

September 16, 2025

Join the Moby-Dick Book Club, a virtual three-part series exploring Herman Melville’s iconic American novel. Whether you’re reading it for the first time or returning to it with fresh eyes, all are welcome to take part in engaging, thought-provoking conversations led by some of the world’s leading Melville scholars.

Tickets

Online ticketing is now our primary method of selling admission. Discounted admission tickets can only be purchased onsite.

Museum & 3D Movie Price
Adults $27
Seniors (65+) $25
Youth $17
Museum Members $4

 

Museum Only Price
Adults $23
Senior (65+) $21
Youth $13
Museum Members FREE

 

Hours

Open Daily: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.
12:00 PM closure on Tuesday, December 23.

Become a Member

Members enjoy free admission year-round and many other benefits. Before you purchase your admission ticket, CONSIDER BECOMING A MEMBER!

Extend Your Admission

Bundle your visit to the New Bedford Whaling Museum with admission to either the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum or the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center to save at both attractions. Buy or learn more at our Admission Desk.

Guides
Plan your visit using the Museum's Visitors Guide (also available in Chinese, French, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish).

Download the Bloomberg Connects app for our gallery guide including audio, images, video, and an interactive map.

Exhibitions

Museum Store

Online ticketing is now our primary method of selling admission.

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!