THE MARATHON EXPERIENCE

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3

MOBY-DICK DINNER & PROGRAM

Special guests to be announced soon... 

5:00 pm Cocktail Reception & Dinner, Followed by a Special Program at 6:30 pm.

Kick off this year’s Moby-Dick Marathon with a delicious dinner in our Harbor View Gallery, followed by a captivating program. This is a ticketed event with tickets coming soon. All other Moby-Dick Marathon programs are free to attend and open to the general public.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4

9:30 am Stump the Scholars
Cook Memorial Theater (Lobby)

Put your knowledge to the test and ask a burning question to the Melville Scholars in this fun and lively program for the chance to earn a “I stumped the Scholars!” pin. Have you ever puzzled over Queequeg’s actual island home? Was it Melville or Ishmael who compared whales to books? Have a similar question? We want to hear from you!

This program is a playful give and take between the questioner and two teams of Melville experts. Questions from Melville’s novels, art, poetry, and short stories are welcomed and up for exploration.

10:00 am The Little Whalers’ Story Time, Craft-making & Scavenger Hunt 
Classroom 1 / Science Classroom (Main Level)
Calling all kiddos! Join us for an hour of story time and craft activities then go on your own exciting whale scavenger hunt! Prizes available upon completion.

11:25 am Extracts
A Whaling Voyage Around the World / Bourne Building (Main Level)
Read by members of the Melville Society Cultural Project.

12 Noon "Call me Ishmael", the Main Attraction
A Whaling Voyage Around the World / Bourne Building (Main Level)
With the strike of eight bells, the Moby-Dick Marathon begins with those three famous opening words..."Call Me Ishmael."

1:30 pm Father Mapple’s Sermon
Seamen’s Bethel (Reserved seating at Bethel. Livestream at the museum in the Harbor View Gallery). This portion of the reading has limited seating and seats will be assigned by lottery (sign-up coming soon!).

1:30 pm Portuguese Mini-Marathon (PMDM)
Cook Memorial Theater (Lobby)
Dozens of participants at the museum join together with readers in mainland Portugal, the Azores, Madeira Islands, and Cape Verde Islands to read the shortened adaptation of Moby-Dick created by Tiago Patricio in Portuguese. Doors open at 1:30pm, remarks at 1:45pm, reading runs 2:00-6:00pm.

2:10 pm Main Marathon Continues
Harbor View Gallery (Upper Level)

2:30 pm Chat with Melville Scholars
Research Library (Main Level)
Exclusive access to Melville Scholars to ask them anything and everything Melville!

3:00 pm Make Your Mark
Classroom 2 (ML)
Take a creative pause and craft a personalized bookmark to help keep your place throughout the Marathon.

6:30 pm Cousin Hosea’s Chowder Hall and the Decanter Taproom
Jacobs Family Gallery (Lower Level)
Recharge and warm up with complimentary chowder or purchase other offerings from one of the food and beverage vendors on site.

7:30 pm Midnight on the Forecastle (chapter 40)
Cook Memorial Theater (Lobby)
Performed by Culture*Park.

8:00 pm Main Marathon Continues
Cook Memorial Theater (Lobby)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 5

8:00 am The 20th-Hour Treat
Jacobs Family Gallery (Lower Level)
Get fueled up for the home stretch.

9:30 am Chat with Melville scholars
Research Library (Main Level)
Exclusive access to Melville Scholars to ask them anything and everything Melville!

1:00 pm Epilogue
Harbor View Gallery (Upper Level)
Prizes for the hearty souls that make it through the entire night.

*Times are approximate and are dependent on the reading pace of the Marathon.