Energy & Enterprise
Gratia Houghton Rinehart Gallery
Opened: April 17, 2015
Energy and Enterprise: Industry and the City of New Bedford tells the story of New Bedford’s evolution from a whaling port to a manufacturing center.
It highlights the impact of industry on urban development, immigration, and the diverse cultural heritage of this dynamic city. The exhibition illuminates the impact of the railroad, the development of the harbor, port and urban environment, and the central role of coal in powering the city, and inspires visitors to explore the landscape of changes in actual locations in the city and the surrounding region. Focusing on the people, products, and infrastructures behind the rhythmic rises and falls of an industrial city, this story reflects not only New Bedford’s past but a larger national narrative that resonates with visitors of all ages and backgrounds.