Nativity Preparatory School of New Bedford
Independent, tuition-free middle school for boys in grades 5-8.
Nathan and Polly Johnson House
Nathan and Mary "Polly" Johnson were free blacks who lived and worked in the city of New Bedford. The Johnsons owned several properties and businesses, including a catering business and confectionary. In addition, the Johnsons were informed and active abolitionists. It was the Johnsons who housed Frederick Douglass and his wife Anna on this site from 1838-1839 after Douglass' escape from slavery.Information courtesy the National Park Service - https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/underground/ma6.htm
Arnold Estate/Wamsutta Club
James Arnold began his career in New Bedford working for William Rotch Jr. in Rotch's counting house. Arnold went on to marry his employer's daughter Sarah and established himself as a successful merchant and philanthropist. Sarah and James built the Arnold mansion in 1821. The Arnolds were avid supporters of horticulture, as well; and the gardens of the estate were meticulously designed and made public - quite unusual for the time. Herman Melville visited the gardens during his time in New Bedford before embarking on the Acushnet in 1841. Four years after Rotch's death, a portion of the Arnold estate was gifted for the purpose of creating Arnold Arboretum - part of the "Emerald Necklace" of parks located in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1919, the Wamsutta Club purchased the Arnold estate and expanded the original mansion to its present form. The Club, which was originally formed as an athletic club, exists today as a private club for social use by its members and their guests.Information courtesy A Picture History of New Bedford, Volume 1; The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University - http://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/about/our-history/; The Wamsutta Club - http://www.wamsuttaclub.org/history.html
Bristol County Superior Court
Superior Court House was constructed in 1831. The original architect was Russell Warren. The court house was built as part of an effort to become a "half-shire town" - an effort that also included the construction of a jail. The court house is most famous for the Lizzy Borden trial that took place there in 1893.Information courtesy A Picture History of New Bedford Volume 1; and South Coast Today - http://www.southcoasttoday.com/article/20100622/NEWS/6220308
128 Mill Street - Carney Home
William H. Carney was born a slave in Norfolk, Virginia in 1840. His father, who escaped via the Underground Railroad, purchased the freedom of his son William and the boy's mother and moved the entire family ultimately to New Bedford. In 1863, Carney enlisted in the all-black 54th Regiment commanded by Robert Gould Shaw. The 54th was sent to lay seige to Fort Wagner in South Carolina. While there, the unit became pinned down. When the flag bearer became mortally wounded, Carney charged foward to save the flag from touching the ground. In the act, Carney was shot several times. Nonetheless, Carney survived. Upon returning to New Bedford, Carney became one of only four letter carriers for the city and the only African-American, according to record. In 1906, Carney became the first African-American to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Upon his death in 1908, flags at the Massachusetts State House were flown at half mast in his memory - an honor typically reserved only for a deceased governor, senator, congressman, or U.S. President.Information courtesy of BlackPast.org - http://www.blackpast.org/aah/carney-william-h-1840-1908; SouthCoast Today - http://www.southcoasttoday.com/article/20130714/News/307140328; The New Bedford Historical Society, Inc. - http://nbhistoricalsociety.org/Important-Figures/sergeant-william-h-carney/
City Hall
First erected as the New Bedford Free Public Library in 1858, the building known today as City Hall was designed by architect Solomon E. Keaton and completed in 1858. Much of the library's initial collection came from private lenders and home libraries. This included a rare and valuable original folio of John James Audobon's Birds of America, donated by James Arnold. In 1906, the library was relocated and the building became Town Hall after the original building, today's New Bedford Free Public Library, was destroyed by fire.Information courtesy A Picture History of New Bedford, Volume 1
New Bedford Free Public Library
What is today New Bedford's Free Public Library was originally designed by Russell Warren and built in 1838 for the purpose of serving as a Town Hall and Market House. The building was mixed use for many years - a place of commerce, discussion, meeting, and housing overflow for the town's library. In 1906 a fire destroyed the building. Even today, the Free Public Library maintains a rare and valuable collection of old texts and artwork, dating back from acquisitions made at its outset.Information courtesy A Picture History of New Bedford, Volume 1
U.S. Custom House
Constructed in 1836, the U.S. Custom House in New Bedford holds the distinction of being the oldest continual-use custom house in the nation and was designed by renowned architect Robert Mills. Mills is credited with designing many of Washington D.C.'s historic sites, including the U.S. Treasury, the General Post Office, the Patent Office, and the Washington Monument. In the whaling era, whaling masters would come to the custom house to register their ships and cargo. Today, commercial fishing and cargo ships continue to log duties and tariffs there.Information courtesy the National Park Service - https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/maritime/usc.htm
Rodman Candleworks
Rodman Candleworks was built around 1815 and was erected for the purpose of producing highly valuable spermecetti candles. The production of these candles was a well-guarded secret and required intense laboring. Prior to the use of petroleum, however, spermaceti provided the best product on the market, with its long burn time, bright light, and hard form.Information courtesy New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park; A Picture History of New Bedford, Volume 1
Double Bank Building
The Double Bank Building was designed by Russell Warren and constructed in 1831 on Water Street. The two banks housed on the site were actually built by two distinct builders, leading to slight variations in the way that the columns at the front of the building were shaped. The Merchants Bank was the building located to the south, while Mechanics Bank operated in the space in the northern part of the building.Information courtesy New Bedford Guide - http://www.newbedfordguide.com/new-bedford-is-not-just-anywhere-architecture/2011/03/16; A Picture History of New Bedford, Volume 1
13 Centre Street - Tallman Warehouse
Tallman Warehouse is the oldest building on Centre Street. The land was purchased and the building constructed in 1790. It's original owner, William Tallman, was involved in many areas of business and farming in the area and co-owned several whaling ships along with Joseph and Caleb Russell. Originally, the Tallman Warehouse functioned to support various aspects of the whaling industry. The Warehouse was saved by the Waterfront Historic Area League in 1967.Information courtesy Waterfront Historic Area League - http://www.waterfrontleague.org/past-projects/; NewBedfordGuide.com - http://www.newbedfordguide.com/new-bedford-centre-street/2012/09/14
Seamen's Bethel
The Seamen's Bethel was built in 1832 by the Port Society. The building functioned as a nondemonimational church - a place for sailors and whalemen to go to for 'moral improvement'. Herman Melville visited the site prior to embarking on the Acushnet in 1841. Melville described a pulpit that didn't exist at the time. In 1961, five years after the movie release of Moby Dick in 1956, a pulpit mirroring the one in the film was constructed for the Bethel.Information Courtesy NewBedfordGuide.com - http://www.newbedfordguide.com/the-seamens-bethel/2010/12/15; National Park Service - https://www.nps.gov/nebe/planyourvisit/bethel.htm; A Picture History of New Bedford, Volume 1
Mariner's Home
What is today the Mariner's Home on Bethel Street was originally built in 1787 as the home of William Rotch Jr. In 1951, Rotch's daughter, Sarah, donated the home to the New Bedford Port Society, which moved the home to its present location and dedicated it as a home for sailors. Today, the Mariner's Home continues to function in this way.Information Courtesy A Picture History of New Bedford, Volume 1
New Bedford Whaling Museum
In 1915, Emily Howland Bourne financed the construction of the Whaling Museum to honor her father, whaling merchant Jonathan Bourne Jr. Today, the museum houses the largest collection of whaling-related art and artifacts.Information Courtesy the National Park Service
