Our Visit to the New Bedford Whaling Museum

by Molly Armando

Over a year ago, I decided it was finally time to check something off my local bucket list: visiting the New Bedford Whaling Museum with my two young boys. Now, if you're a parent — or have ever spent time around small children — you know that what sounds like a simple, wholesome outing can quickly become a high-stakes adventure. But despite the chaos and constant snack negotiations, the day turned out to be surprisingly fun, educational, and yes, even a little magical.

At the time, Charlie was five and Graham was three — right in the thick of that delightful “threenager” phase. I knew I’d need backup. So I recruited my mom (a.k.a. Ga Ga), bundled everyone up on a freezing cold weekend, and headed into downtown New Bedford. If you live around here, you know how precious indoor activities are — especially in the winter. Unlike California or Florida, where you can roam free year-round, New England weather has a way of forcing you to get creative. So when you find a place that’s warm, engaging, and kid-friendly? You hold on to it like gold.

As soon as we stepped inside the museum, the boys were instantly captivated. Giant whale skeletons suspended from the ceiling towered above us — and that alone made it worth the trip. Charlie was thrilled to be handed a scavenger hunt sheet at the entrance. It had illustrations of different whales to spot throughout the exhibits, and it gave him a sense of purpose (and me a brief moment of peace). At the end, he got a little sheet of whale stickers as a prize, which basically made his week. Graham, meanwhile, became completely obsessed with the life-size model of a whale’s heart. Yes, a whale heart. It was the kind of weird, wonderful thing that kids remember forever — and possibly talk about for months.

Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. At one point, I had to physically carry Graham down a staircase while he screamed “I want snacks!” loud enough to echo off the museum walls. But we made it through without breaking anything, and even managed to learn a few things along the way. And for me, it was a little reminder of why I love this area — and why I love sharing these places with my kids. The museum is such a rich part of our local history, and it was amazing to see it through their eyes for the first time.

So if you’ve been thinking about going, I definitely recommend it — especially if you have little ones and a good sense of humor. Bring snacks, bring backup, and maybe don’t try to do every exhibit in one go. But go. It’s worth it.

And if you want to hear a bit more about our adventure, you can watch the video I made about it here.

If you have any questions about the area please don't hesitate to reach out!

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