The 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Plaza, located in New Bedford’s historic district, honors one of the first African American regiments in the Union Army. Situated on the site of the former Tobey & Coggeshall Building, where Company C was recruited, the plaza features engraved bricks commemorating the soldiers. Adjacent to the U.S. Custom House, it reflects New Bedford’s role in the Civil War and the fight for civil rights.
The Double Bank Building in New Bedford, built in 1831, is a Greek Revival structure with eight Ionic columns. Designed to house Mechanics Bank and Merchants Bank, it served both craftsmen and business owners during the city’s whaling boom. Located on North Water Street, it symbolizes New Bedford’s 19th-century economic heritage and is now part of the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.
The Mariners’ Home was opened for its present use as a home for transient mariners in 1857. Originally built as a private mansion in 1787, the building was later donated to the New Bedford Port Society and moved to its present location.
The Nathan and Polly Johnson House is a location important to the history of the Underground Railroad. Mentioned in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Nathan and Polly Johnson provided the first free home to Frederick and Anna Douglass. A designated site on the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, it became a National Historic Landmark in 2000 and, was added to the Network to Freedom in 2001.
The New Bedford Whaling Museum is a world-renowned museum that brings to life the rich history of the whaling industry and New Bedford. Located in the heart of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.
Located at 33 William Street, the Visitor Center provides the National Park Service visitor with an introduction to New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. Brochures, maps, exhibits and an introductory film are available as well as a small gift shop, rest rooms, Ranger programs, an Artist-in-Residence program, and information on the Park’s partners.
Built around 1815 by Samuel Rodman Sr., Rodman Candleworks is a historic Federal-style building that once produced high-quality spermaceti candles from sperm whale oil. These luxury candles symbolized New Bedford’s status as “The City That Lit the World.” While it now operates as a private business, the building remains a testament to the city’s economic prosperity and the significant role of the whaling industry in early American history.
The Seamen’s Bethel was opened in 1832 by wealthy Quakers concerned with the spiritual well-being of mariners in New Bedford. The Seamen’s Bethel became famous when depicted as the “Whalemen’s Chapel” in Herman Melville’s 1851 novel, Moby-Dick; or, The Whale. The Seamen’s Bethel is open to the public and is still used for regular services, weddings, funerals, and other religious activities.
The U.S. Custom House in New Bedford is a Greek Revival building designed by Robert Mills in 1834-1836. As the largest of four New England custom houses, it played a crucial role in regulating maritime trade during the city’s whaling era. Today, it stands as a key landmark within the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.
