New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park [MA]

Description

The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park presents the history of New Bedford, whaling capital of New England in the mid-19th century, and the trade itself. This is the only national park to focus on whaling and the whale oil industry. The park consists of a portion of New Bedford itself, the starting point for the fictional voyage chronicled in Herman Melville's Moby Dick, as well as the majority of American whaling expeditions. Voyages could last upwards of five years per voyage, but were crucial to providing whale oil to light the 1800s United States.

The park offers an introductory film; exhibits on area preservation, whaling, and commercial fishing; a guided tour; self-guided tours on whaling and on the Underground Railroad; and Junior Ranger activities. The park is partners with the following area institutions: the New Bedford Whaling Museum, Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum, Seamen's Bethel, Waterfront Visitor Center and Schooner Ernestina. Partner institutions offer more than 60 educational programs.

Inupiat Heritage Center [AK]

Description

The Inupiat Heritage Center presents the history and culture of the Inupiat people. Originally the only hunters of the bowhead whale, or Agviq, in the region, during the 19th century they came into contact with New England whalers. After this point, many Inupiat crewed on New Bedford vessels and/or traded with the commercial whalers.

The center offers exhibits, a traditional room, activities, tours, storytelling, lectures, dance performances, and Junior Ranger activities. The website offers a booklet of activities to be completed during school visits.

Sea of Glory: The US Exploring Expedition (1838-1842)

Description

Author Nathaniel Philbrick, author of Sea of Glory, describes the U.S. Exploring Expedition of 1838-1842, in which six ships of explorers and scientists, commanded by Charles Wilkes, set out to explore the Pacific Ocean and eventually discovered Antarctica. Philbrick also covers the story of the whaling ship Essex's shipwreck and related shipwrecks, to lead into the story of the Exploring Expedition

Maine Maritime Museum

Description

The Museum presents visitors with exhibits brimming with art and artifacts; contemporary, interactive areas for children and adults; an historic shipyard with five of the original 19th-century buildings; a Victorian-era shipyard owner's home; an active waterfront; and a life-size sculptural representation of the largest wooden sailing vessel ever built.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, boat cruises, classes, educational programs, research library access, and educational and recreational events.

Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum [MA]

Description

The Greek Revival Rotch-Jones-Duff House was built in 1834 for whaling merchant William Rotch, Jr. The interior is furnished to the different periods of the residence's occupation (1834-1981). The home was also occupied in turn by the Jones and Duff families, ship's agents and coal, whale oil, and oil transportation professionals. The surrounding gardens most closely reflect the period 1851 to 1935.

The museum offers period rooms, exhibits, 30-minute self-guided tours of the home, gardens, one-hour guided group tours, guided group tours with tea or a luncheon, fourth and fifth grade educational programs, lectures, and educational programs. The website offers background information for the educational programs.

Southampton Historical Museums and Research Center [NY]

Description

The Southampton Historical Museums and Research Center seeks to preserve and share the history of Southampton, New York. To this end, the center operates a number of historical properties, including a paint store; blacksmith shop; one-room schoolhouse; carriage barn; and the main building, a sea captain's home, dating to 1843. Topics covered include farming, whaling, and local history.

The center offers period rooms and exhibits.

Falmouth Historical Society [MA]

Description

The Falmouth Historical Society operates a selection of museums, which preserve and share the history of Falmouth, Massachusetts. Two 18th–century houses display fine art, furniture, and other decorative arts; while exhibits discuss pre–Civil War medical practice, the 1800's whaling industry, and the life of Katharine Lee Bates (1859–1929), author of "America, the Beautiful." The area surrounding the structures contains three gardens—one a Colonial–style flower garden—and a green which has been used for Colonial militia practice.

The society offers period rooms; exhibits; guided walking tours; trolley tours on maritime life and agricultural life; hands-on children's activities; and archives, including maritime log books.

North Carolina Maritime Museum

Description

The North Carolina Maritime Museum documents, preserves, and researches the maritime history of coastal North Carolina. All of the museum's programs and exhibits, both general and specialized, interpret the state's cultural maritime history and offer a larger national perspective on coastal environment and barrier island ecology. The museum holdings include more than 15,000 cultural artifacts and natural history specimens, some 2,000 photographs and negatives, and 1,000 flat documents. The material culture collection of more than 2,000 artifacts includes uniforms of the U.S. Lifesaving Service and U.S. Coast Guard, lifesaving gear and ephemera, fishing gear, decoys, boat models and half-hulls, a Fresnel lens, 200 woodworking tools, nets, sea chests, and maritime paintings and prints. The small craft collection includes 37 historic indigenous boats (including a rare Civil War-era split-log canoe), over 100 models and half-models, 24 outboard engines, and 60 sextants, compasses, telescopes, and plotting instruments that document coastal navigation.

The museum offers teacher workshops, educational programs delivered in-classroom and in conjunction with curricula, a summer science program which includes maritime history, and exhibits.

New Bedford Whaling Museum [MA]

Description

The New Bedford Whaling Museum chronicles the history of the whaling industry in New Bedford and New England in general. The museum also serves as a local history museum, with exhibits on New Bedford’s past.

The museum offers a variety of exhibits pertaining to whaling and New Bedford, special events such as lectures and presentations, and educational programs that operate year-round. The website offers visitor information, a calendar of events, a summary of all exhibits, and information regarding educational and special programs.

Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum [NY]

Description

The Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the whaling industry, especially the history of the industry in the Long Island Area. The museum was opened in 1942, and offers an archive of historical documents in addition to the variety of exhibits that it puts on throughout the year. Finally, the museum also offers fully customizable educational programs, which can be adapted to classes of any age or level.

The site offers an events calendar, information on the educational programs offered by the museum, information on current exhibits, and an online gift shop.