New Bedford Harbor

New Bedford was the mid 19th century’s preeminent whaling port and for a time “the richest city in the world.” Come stroll down cobblestone streets, visit the world’s largest whaling museum, tour a whaling merchant’s home and whaleman's chapel, and walk a 19th century schooner’s decks. Walk in the footsteps of Herman Melville and Frederick Douglass and learn about a remarkable era.
Originally built as a bank in 1854, the National Park Visitor Center sits in the heart of New Bedford's historic district.

Buttonwood Park

The largest and most visited public park in New Bedford is often referred to as the "Crown Jewel" of the New Bedford Park System. The original master plan for the park was developed in 1895 by Charles Eliot of the famed architectural firm of Olmsted, Olmsted and Eliot. In 1988, a new Olmsted-inspired master plan was adopted, serving as a blueprint for park improvements. In 2000 the park and parts of the neighborhood surrounding it were listed on the National Register of Historic Places.