"The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in, in all of New England"
                                                                                                    -Moby Dick by Herman Melville

In January of 1841 a 21 year old Herman Melville set sail from New Bedford aboard a whaling ship on one of the most important sea voyages in American literature.That voyage inspired the classic novel "Moby Dick".

Early in the 19th century New Bedford was a city coming of age. The waterfront, business district and neighborhoods were teeming with prosperity from the flourishing whaling industry. More whaling voyages sailed from New Bedford than from all of the worlds ports combined and the whale oil from these ships established New Bedford as the wealthiest city in the nation.

"The City That Lit The World" will forever be linked to the sea and whaling. In 1996 Congress fittingly chose New Bedford to tell the story of whaling by establishing the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.

Today New Bedford still retains the feel of a whaling era port having preserved much of the city's legacy through the conservation efforts of enlightened citizens. A walk on it's cobblestone streets by elegant homes, stately banks and the working waterfront will transport you to another time.

The cultural cornerstones of the Whaling Museum, the Zeiterion Performing Arts Theater, the UMass College of Visual and Performing Arts and the New Bedford Art Museum along with numerous galleries, shops and restaurants all located in the 13 block historic district are working towards a common goal of building a vibrant regional arts community that reflects the heritage of this city by the sea.