Collections Show & Tell
We steward a Collection of more than 750,000 objects and only a small percentage is on display at any given time. Each object has a story of its own and, in this video series, Museum experts take you behind-the-scenes to show you some of their favorites.
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This ship relic was retrieved in the water off the coast of Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts in the mid-1980’s.

An artifact with a purpose, used by whalemen during their time out at sea.

This video introduces us to a variety of artifacts in the Museum’s off-site storage facility, related to whaling and whales.

Curatorial staff is bringing you to work with them. See what they do behind the scenes in Collections storage.

A sewing machine station with a story, from the mid-20th century, typical of those used in the New Bedford mills.

A Winthrop style secretary desk that is unique in its own right.

This is a rather sad artifact from New Bedford’s history.

Why does the Museum have so many chairs in the collection?

Learn more about this mid-1850’s melodeon, made in New Bedford, and how it works.