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5.0 726 reviews

Excellent79%
Very good18%
Average1%
Poor1%
Terrible1%

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“whaling industry”(121 reviews)

“whaling museum”(110 reviews)

“all ages”(45 reviews)

About

The largest museum in America devoted to human interaction with whales in the world's oceans, the history of whaling and its impact, and the history of Southcoast Massachusetts, the Whaling Museum houses an extensive collection of art and artifacts...more

Closed today

Hours Today: Closed

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Suggested duration: 2-3 hours

Contact

18 Johnny Cake Hl, New Bedford, MA 02740-6317

Website

+1 508-997-0046

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Reviews (726)

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1 - 10 of 689 reviews

WanderingToesTiger

Clemson, South Carolina

22496

Reviewed 1 week ago via mobile

Beautiful Venue

My husband and I attended a wedding reception at the Whaling Museum. It was an amazing experience for all of the guests! There is a life size boat that visitors can climb aboard! The exhibits were outstanding and very informative. I would highly recommend a...More

Date of experience: December 2018

Thank WanderingToesTiger

Martin L

293

Reviewed 2 weeks ago

Moby Dick Marathon

Just attended the 26 hour reading of Moby Dick. Standing room only. Saw the support of the museum staff and many volunteers who love this museum; I especially like the Lagoda Room with the 1/2 size model of a whale ship and the actual whale...More

Date of experience: January 2019

Thank Martin L

tommy1125

Punta Gorda, Florida

7422

Reviewed 2 weeks ago via mobile

Wedding Reception

Went for brolo's wedding reception. Pretty cool space. Mass has some really weird liquor license laws, but not the venue's issue. The space was neat with cool exhibits and they view from the balcony where we ate was beautiful. If you're looking for a cool...More

Date of experience: December 2018

Thank tommy1125

John F

312

Reviewed 3 weeks ago

Incredible Museum .... .this is a MUST SEE

When you walk in the door and there is a full sized whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling.... there is so much to see.... it would be difficult to enjoy this museum in less than 2 hours. I loved the historical artifacts and pictures of...More

Date of experience: July 2018

Thank John F

Dianna M

South Amboy, New Jersey

35097

Reviewed 3 weeks ago

Last minute road trip

While visiting Westerly Rhode Island in November 2018. We went to Providence and were unable to find the historic area there. So my husband suggested we drive to New Bedford, Massachusetts which is not far from we were. So here we go on another road...More

Date of experience: November 2018

Thank Dianna M

Serendipity strikes again! Thanks for coming and for taking the time to write this positive review. The Whaling Museum is about 70 minutes from Boston and Hyannis (Cape Cod), and about 45 minutes from Providence and Newport, RI - by car.

76victorj

Bridgeport, Connecticut

355

Reviewed 4 weeks ago

One of the best museums we have ever visited

We went here expecting to only spend a couple of hours. We ended up spending almost the whole day and then coming back the next day! The tickets are good for two days. If you have any interest at all in early American commerce or,...More

Date of experience: May 2018

Thank 76victorj

Wow! Thank you for this wonderful review. You're right that our focus is distinct from Mystic Seaport. We tell the story of human interaction with whales across time as well as the history of the region. Yankee whaling is a big part of that story...More

TrailBlazer820142

4

Reviewed December 11, 2018

Wonderful

I have visited many museums and this is one of the best. It presents the city’s whaling history in an interesting way. The Pagoda, half scale whaling ship is a treasure. The docents are all friendly and do wonderful presentations.

Date of experience: July 2018

Thank TrailBlazer820142

High praise! Thank you! You probably mean the Lagoda (not Pagoda) - as far as we know it is world's largest ship model and visitors love to climb onboard.

Jo-Ann M

Winchester, Massachusetts

11534

Reviewed November 28, 2018

Impressive waling museum!

Really impressive museum with many in depth collections: whale skeletons, world's largest collection of scrimshaw. Many exhibitions of the whaling industry over time and the lives of the sailors. Enjoyed the visit and recommend highly.

Date of experience: November 2018

Thank Jo-Ann M

Thank you for taking the time to write a review!

KLfoodfun

Satellite Beach, Florida

516

Reviewed November 24, 2018

Impressive!

What a wonderful living history of whaling and the cultures/lifestyles surrounding it. This museum provides an all inclusive understanding of the scene at that time. You can feel the sweat and blood. The artifacts (the harpoons, rope knots, portraits, the skeletons, the ship model)....you could...More

Date of experience: November 2018

Thank KLfoodfun

We are happy to hear that you had such a great experience! Our exhibits change regularly, so we hope that gives you an excuse to come back. For example, a major expansion of our whale ecology, marine mammal conservation, and ocean health exhibition "Whales Today"...More

Rita L

duluth, mn

124

Reviewed November 23, 2018 via mobile

Fabulous

Very impressed with quality and vast representation of the history, peoples and all facets of this era in time.

Date of experience: November 2018

Thank Rita L

Thank you for this positive review!

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Questions & Answers

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valueralan

Best days and hours to avoid school groups? we are in the area Oct 2 - 5 inclusive.

September 14, 2016|

AnswerShow all 4 answers

That's usually too early in the school year to take a Field Trip. There may be 2 days school break (Oct 7 &10) in that area, so you're safe anyway. Often field trips occur in the Spring. Also, I suggest you take the Tour... More