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New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park commemorates the heritage
of the world's preeminent whaling port during the 19th century. A variety
of cultural landscapes, historic buildings, museum collections, and archives
preserve this history and collectively recount the stories of a remarkable
era. Whaling, a leading 19th century enterprise, contributed to America's
economic and political vitality.
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park was created in 1996. The park
encompasses 34 acres spread over 13 city blocks and includes a visitor center,
the New Bedford Whaling Museum,the Seamen's Bethel, the schooner Ernestina,
and the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum.
The Park also has an affiliated area in Barrow, Alaska. During the nineteenth
century, over two thousand whaling voyages sailed out of New Bedford for
the Arctic region of Alaska, and joined Alaska Natives from Barrow, Alaska
and other areas in the Arctic region in subsistence whaling. One of the
Park's directives is to ensure that the contribution of Alaska Natives to
the history of whaling in the United States is fully recognized and establish
links between the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and the The
Iñupiat Hertiage Center, in Barrow, Alaska.
The Park was created in October of 1996 when the 104th Congress passed
the omnibus parks bill. President Clinton signed the parks bill into law
in November of 1996.
The city of New Bedford was the 19th century capital of the world's whaling
industry. The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park's mission is
to preserve, protect, and interpret certain districts, structures, and
artifacts that are associated with the history of whaling and related
social, economic, and environmental themes. The National Park Service
works with its partners to preserve and interpret the nationally significant
resources within the park.
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