Past Exhibitions

An outdoor exhibition series – photographs representing a sampling of the stories presented within our walls.

An exploration of our extraordinary collections of Golden Age Dutch and Flemish paintings through a fresh lens.

Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, a.k.a. Frederick Douglass was a fiery orator, author, champion of abolition, women’s rights and a freedom fighter in the age of the Civil War.

Featuring some of the more tempestuous works of marine painting in the collection along with a selection of Matthew Fontaine Maury’s Wind and Current Charts.

This exhibition presented a unique opportunity to see many works from private collections by a truly remarkable local artist.

Photographs from the Museum’s Standard Times collection take you on a journey through the neighborhoods and vibrant ethnic enclaves, wharves, establishments, individuals, and legendary stories that marked New Bedford in the early 20th century.

More than 30 whaling and maritime prints and drawings on paper by the New Bedford illustrator George Gale.

A replica of a ship's forecastle in the Casa dos Botes Discovery Center.

A selection of the finest oil paintings of maritime scenes in the Museum’s collection.

Showcasing many forms of media from our local community, this exhibition reflected local Cape Verdean voices and covered themes such as immigration, island culture(s), family, Cape Verdean and Cape Verdean American identity, Cape Verdean folklore, and Cape Verdean history.

Stories, reflections, and experiences of apprentices past and present.

A selection of Nicholas Whitman’s recent photographic work adjacent to the Whaling Museum’s Albert Pinkham Ryder painting, Landscape, c. 1870.

An exhibition to accompany Michael Dyer’s new book O’er the Wide and Tractless Sea: Original Art of the Yankee Whale Hunt.

The Museum celebrated the work of the master knot tyer, maritime artist, historian, and author Clifford W. Ashley.

Exhibitions in the Mariners’ Home explored themes pertaining to the historic home.

A local South Coast artist working in oil paint, pen and ink, and watercolor creates works autobiographical in nature.

Selected World War I posters from the collections of the New Bedford Whaling Museum.

Unlike other photographs of colonial Africa from this era, Sowle’s images beautifully depict individuals engaging in daily life and interactions, with no hint of ethnocentrism or stereotyping.

An exploration of the human fascination with whales and the history of whaling.

The first installation of a major expansion of Whales Today, the Museum’s whale ecology, ocean health, and marine mammal conservation exhibition.

By going back to the origins, contexts, impact and memories of the First World War, the exhibition examined the various aspects of Portuguese participation in this global conflict.

Set amidst an historic textile mill in New Bedford, this was the first time in generations that the entire Panorama could be seen by the public.

A multi-media experience about prominent merchant, philanthropist, community leader, civil rights advocate and abolitionist Captain Paul Cuffe (1759 – 1817).

Featuring local painters R. Swain Gifford, William Bradford, Lemuel Eldred, Clement Nye Swift, and Charles Henry Gifford.

Featuring Punch and Judy puppets, books, games, and circus memorabilia.

The full spectrum of whaling weaponry devised in the 19th century, from classic harpoons to massive guns, providing new insight into the greatest big-game hunt ever pursued by man.

This nationally touring exhibition, appropriate for audiences of all ages, tells the gripping true story of the largest rescue action by a single individual during the Holocaust.

An Apprenticeship Program Exhibition – modernizing photographer James E. Reed (1864-1939) and reviving his legacy.

Marion history as it rose in social and cultural prominence in the late 19th century as a destination resort community.

Winning art from the Massachusetts Marine Educators 2017 Marine Art Contest

Featuring images of photographers Louis Mazzantenta and Gemina Garland-Lewis with a focus on the people and cultural history of Azorean whaling.

The extraordinary work of New Bedford’s award-winning photojournalist Peter Pereira.

Illustrations by renowned Norwegian-American artist Claus Hoie, who specialized in whaling subjects and Moby-Dick inspired scenes.

New Bedford stood front and center in a sweep of history vividly brought to life in this major exhibition. From the Great Irish Famine through to 1916, New Bedford can claim its fair share of line honors in an intriguing story combining Yankee grit and Irish pluck.

A photographic exhibition presented by the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Ballycroy, Westport and Co Mayo.

Whaling and the Geography of Moby-Dick – an examination of the tools, techniques and resources mentioned by Melville.

Oils, watercolors, and sketchbooks illuminate the life and work of one of New Bedford's greatest artists.

A celebration of two masters of American yacht design – C. Raymond Hunt and W. Starling Burgess.

While many of our treasures are on display throughout the Museum, this show highlighted objects included in the book of the same name that are not included in thematic exhibitions in other galleries.

From the upper deck of the Museum visitors could see a beautiful panoramic view of the local fishing fleet and imagine being at the local fishery in the past, present, and future.

Mixed-media prints inspired by Moby-Dick and created by Robert Del Tredici and Kathleen Piercefield were featured. The prints were recent acquisitions of the Melville Society Archive, which is housed at the Whaling Museum.

Large-scale photographs by internationally renowned artist Nuno Sá, the most awarded wildlife photographer from Portugal.

Highlights of the Museum’s exceptional collection of fine and decorative arts, navigational instruments, ship models, artifacts, manuscripts, and maps from around the world.

Thanks to the generosity of Warner Bros. Pictures, this exhibition featured four costumes on loan from the film In the Heart of the Sea with additional artifacts included from the Museum collection.

From the mosques of the Middle East to the Roman Forum, see the world as 19th century New Bedford did: through the eyes of its artists.

Favorite pieces from the Museum's ceramics collection, representing various techniques and ranging from the fine and decorative arts.

Contemporary artists respond to the New Bedford Whaling Museum collection.

This exhibition explored Russell’s self-training and subsequent work targeting an audience with specialized knowledge of whaling. 

Highlights from the Elizabeth Schultz Collection, the Melville Society Archive, and the New Bedford Whaling Museum.

Marine models viewed as a true decorative art form. Collections of the past, present and future.

Large scale paper cuts of various interpretations taken from the text of Moby-Dick.

Beautiful glass lighting, including the renowned Pairpoint “puffy” and reverse-painted table lamps, together with art glass made locally by the Mt. Washington Glass Company.

Images of New Bedford and Fairhaven from the permanent collection.