VC Closed

Starting January 2, 2023, through March 29, 2023, the facilities will be closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

The visitor center is located at 33 William Street, New Bedford, MA 02740

Winter Hours.

Starting January 4 2023 through March 31 2023 the Visitor Center will open Thursday through Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The facilities will be closed Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. Park staff and volunteers will be on duty ready to help you plan your visit to the national......More

Starting January 4 2023 through March 31 2023 the Visitor Center will open Thursday through Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The facilities will be closed Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. Park staff and volunteers will be on duty ready to help you plan your visit to the national historical park and the City of New Bedford.Please note that wearing face mask is required.We look forward to meeting you and helping you start your journey in the City that Lit the World where Frederick Douglass once remarked “From the wharves I strolled around and over the town gazing with wonder and admiration at the splendid churches beautiful dwellings and finely-cultivated gardens evincing an amount of wealth comfort taste and refinement.” Herman Melville wrote “The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in in all New England … nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses parks and gardens more opulent than in New Bedford.” 

The park is located on 33 William Street, New Bedford, MA 02740

Underground Railroad: New Bedford’s Most Powerful Protest

Underground Railroad: New Bedford’s Most Powerful Protest  Thursday, February 9th, 2023, at 6:00 PM  Online/Virtual, Zoom  Join Ranger Rufai as he shares with you seven of New Bedford’s agitators from the most powerful protest in its history -- Abolition. Local Leaders ......More

Underground Railroad: New Bedford’s Most Powerful Protest  Thursday, February 9th, 2023, at 6:00 PM  Online/Virtual, Zoom  Join Ranger Rufai as he shares with you seven of New Bedford’s agitators from the most powerful protest in its history -- Abolition. Local Leaders include Nathan and Mary “Polly” Johnson, William and Lucinda Clark Bush, William Still connected to New Bedford through his work in Philadelphia, the famed Henry ‘Box’ Brown, Captain of the Pearl, Daniel Drayton, Martha Gray Bush, the mother of the Massachusetts 54th Infantry, and Andrew Robeson, Quaker Abolitionist.  Registration for this online ZOOM link  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvde6pqjsvHtxBHF8VgKZ7Fkk5YGeGXYSQ 

This virtual program will take place virtually

Winter Hours.

Starting January 4 2023 through March 31 2023 the Visitor Center will open Thursday through Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The facilities will be closed Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. Park staff and volunteers will be on duty ready to help you plan your visit to the national......More

Starting January 4 2023 through March 31 2023 the Visitor Center will open Thursday through Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The facilities will be closed Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. Park staff and volunteers will be on duty ready to help you plan your visit to the national historical park and the City of New Bedford.Please note that wearing face mask is required.We look forward to meeting you and helping you start your journey in the City that Lit the World where Frederick Douglass once remarked “From the wharves I strolled around and over the town gazing with wonder and admiration at the splendid churches beautiful dwellings and finely-cultivated gardens evincing an amount of wealth comfort taste and refinement.” Herman Melville wrote “The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in in all New England … nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses parks and gardens more opulent than in New Bedford.” 

The park is located on 33 William Street, New Bedford, MA 02740

Winter Hours.

Starting January 4 2023 through March 31 2023 the Visitor Center will open Thursday through Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The facilities will be closed Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. Park staff and volunteers will be on duty ready to help you plan your visit to the national......More

Starting January 4 2023 through March 31 2023 the Visitor Center will open Thursday through Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The facilities will be closed Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. Park staff and volunteers will be on duty ready to help you plan your visit to the national historical park and the City of New Bedford.Please note that wearing face mask is required.We look forward to meeting you and helping you start your journey in the City that Lit the World where Frederick Douglass once remarked “From the wharves I strolled around and over the town gazing with wonder and admiration at the splendid churches beautiful dwellings and finely-cultivated gardens evincing an amount of wealth comfort taste and refinement.” Herman Melville wrote “The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in in all New England … nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses parks and gardens more opulent than in New Bedford.” 

The park is located on 33 William Street, New Bedford, MA 02740

Story Time with a Park Ranger

Join us in a collaboration program with New Bedford Free Public Lbrary for a special monthly story time series with a Park Ranger.All families are welcome!

This event will take place at New Bedford Free Public Library 613 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA

Winter Hours.

Starting January 4 2023 through March 31 2023 the Visitor Center will open Thursday through Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The facilities will be closed Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. Park staff and volunteers will be on duty ready to help you plan your visit to the national......More

Starting January 4 2023 through March 31 2023 the Visitor Center will open Thursday through Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The facilities will be closed Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. Park staff and volunteers will be on duty ready to help you plan your visit to the national historical park and the City of New Bedford.Please note that wearing face mask is required.We look forward to meeting you and helping you start your journey in the City that Lit the World where Frederick Douglass once remarked “From the wharves I strolled around and over the town gazing with wonder and admiration at the splendid churches beautiful dwellings and finely-cultivated gardens evincing an amount of wealth comfort taste and refinement.” Herman Melville wrote “The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in in all New England … nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses parks and gardens more opulent than in New Bedford.” 

The park is located on 33 William Street, New Bedford, MA 02740

VC Closed

Starting January 2, 2023, through March 29, 2023, the facilities will be closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

The visitor center is located at 33 William Street, New Bedford, MA 02740

VC Closed

Starting January 2, 2023, through March 29, 2023, the facilities will be closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

The visitor center is located at 33 William Street, New Bedford, MA 02740

VC Closed

Starting January 2, 2023, through March 29, 2023, the facilities will be closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

The visitor center is located at 33 William Street, New Bedford, MA 02740

Winter Hours.

Starting January 4 2023 through March 31 2023 the Visitor Center will open Thursday through Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The facilities will be closed Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. Park staff and volunteers will be on duty ready to help you plan your visit to the national......More

Starting January 4 2023 through March 31 2023 the Visitor Center will open Thursday through Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The facilities will be closed Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. Park staff and volunteers will be on duty ready to help you plan your visit to the national historical park and the City of New Bedford.Please note that wearing face mask is required.We look forward to meeting you and helping you start your journey in the City that Lit the World where Frederick Douglass once remarked “From the wharves I strolled around and over the town gazing with wonder and admiration at the splendid churches beautiful dwellings and finely-cultivated gardens evincing an amount of wealth comfort taste and refinement.” Herman Melville wrote “The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in in all New England … nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses parks and gardens more opulent than in New Bedford.” 

The park is located on 33 William Street, New Bedford, MA 02740

Winter Hours.

Starting January 4 2023 through March 31 2023 the Visitor Center will open Thursday through Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The facilities will be closed Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. Park staff and volunteers will be on duty ready to help you plan your visit to the national......More

Starting January 4 2023 through March 31 2023 the Visitor Center will open Thursday through Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The facilities will be closed Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. Park staff and volunteers will be on duty ready to help you plan your visit to the national historical park and the City of New Bedford.Please note that wearing face mask is required.We look forward to meeting you and helping you start your journey in the City that Lit the World where Frederick Douglass once remarked “From the wharves I strolled around and over the town gazing with wonder and admiration at the splendid churches beautiful dwellings and finely-cultivated gardens evincing an amount of wealth comfort taste and refinement.” Herman Melville wrote “The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in in all New England … nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses parks and gardens more opulent than in New Bedford.” 

The park is located on 33 William Street, New Bedford, MA 02740

Winter Hours.

Starting January 4 2023 through March 31 2023 the Visitor Center will open Thursday through Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The facilities will be closed Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. Park staff and volunteers will be on duty ready to help you plan your visit to the national......More

Starting January 4 2023 through March 31 2023 the Visitor Center will open Thursday through Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The facilities will be closed Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. Park staff and volunteers will be on duty ready to help you plan your visit to the national historical park and the City of New Bedford.Please note that wearing face mask is required.We look forward to meeting you and helping you start your journey in the City that Lit the World where Frederick Douglass once remarked “From the wharves I strolled around and over the town gazing with wonder and admiration at the splendid churches beautiful dwellings and finely-cultivated gardens evincing an amount of wealth comfort taste and refinement.” Herman Melville wrote “The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in in all New England … nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses parks and gardens more opulent than in New Bedford.” 

The park is located on 33 William Street, New Bedford, MA 02740

Story Time with a Park Ranger

Join us in a collaboration program with New Bedford Free Public Lbrary for a special monthly story time series with a Park Ranger.All families are welcome!

This event will take place at New Bedford Free Public Library 613 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA

The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass in New Bedford: A conversation with New Bedford’s 1850s Lady, Abby Almy and Frederick Douglass.

The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass in New Bedford:  A conversation with New Bedford’s 1850s Lady, Abby Almy and Frederick Douglass. Saturday, February 18th, 2023, at 2:00 PM  Online/Virtual, Zoom link  Frederick Douglass called New Bedford the beginning of his new......More

The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass in New Bedford:  A conversation with New Bedford’s 1850s Lady, Abby Almy and Frederick Douglass. Saturday, February 18th, 2023, at 2:00 PM  Online/Virtual, Zoom link  Frederick Douglass called New Bedford the beginning of his new existence – his life in freedom.   While living in New Bedford he acquired the name Douglass, moved on to his own apartment on Ray Street where he and his wife Anna Murray welcomed three of their children.   Please join us as we listen in on a recorded conversation between Frederick Douglass (Nathan Richardson) and his New Bedford neighbor Abby Almy (Judy Roderiques) conversation about Douglass’ life in New Bedford.  Nathan Richardson is a poet, author, and spoken word performer who captures completely the physical and spiritual essence of the great writer, orator, and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.  Judy Roderiques in a Nationally Recognized National Park Service Volunteer who has embodied Abby Almy in New Bedford for 13 years.  Registration Linkhttps://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwod-itpjsiE9C7AQGRVd0p6g6x7NJg4x7Z  

This virtual program will be aired on the ZOOM link