Fun Filled Day Planned for Herman Melville Family Day, July 27

Herman Melville Family Day celebrates the 194th birthday of the famed author of “Moby-Dick” at the New Bedford Whaling Museum on Saturday, July 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with free children’s activities indoors and out, and it ends as all birthdays should – with cake.

The annual celebration takes place in the Jacobs Family Gallery and on the museum plaza, with programs throughout the museum galleries. It features special guests, art, music, and story reading for children 12 years and younger. Regular admission applies to museum galleries.

Meet children’s book illustrator Andrew Glass. A New York City author and illustrator of many books for children, Andrew’s singular, distinct style has graced the pages of books of colorful historical and folkloric figures from Jesse James to Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane to Billy the Kid. Read along with Andrew from his latest book, “Moby Dick: Chasing the Great White Whale.” Books will be available for sale and signing.

Children’s arts and crafts activities scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. include creating soap scrimshaw, little logbooks, paper sailors’ valentines, whale hats, bookmarks and whale magnets.

Kids can make their own floatable toy model of Captain Ahab’s ship, Pequod. Wading pools on the plaza will allow young shipwrights to test their vessels’ seaworthiness before they take them home.

Kids can also test their aim in the harpoon throwing contest; hit the target and win a prize. Take your photo in our authentic Beetle whaleboat on the museum plaza. At the “touch table” examine sperm whale teeth, baleen and scrimshaw.

At 1:30 p.m. visitors of all ages are invited to join in a “Happy Birthday” sing-along and enjoy a slice of birthday cake.

Special activities include: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. – Moby-Dick tour; 10:30 to 11:00 – Read along with Andrew Glass and his new book, “Moby Dick: Chasing the Great White Whale”; 11:30 to noon – Learn sea chanteys while raising and lowering the jib sails on the Lagoda; 12:00 to 1:00 – Go below deck on the Lagoda; 12:30-1:30 – All aboard the Lagoda! Kids’ program; 1:00-1:30 – Read along with Andrew Glass; 1:30 – “Happy Birthday” sing-along and birthday cake. Regular admission rates apply to museum galleries, including the Moby-Dick tour Lagoda programs.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Drawings to win family memberships will be held throughout the day. The Museum Store will also hold a summer tent sale.

Herman Melville Family Day is sponsored in part by the Grimshaw Gudewicz Charitable Foundation and the Helen E. Ellis Charitable Fund.

With more the 750,000 items in its collection, the New Bedford Whaling Museum is the world’s most comprehensive museum devoted to the global story of whales, whaling, and the history of New Bedford and the region. Cornerstone of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the Museum campus is located at 18 Johnny Cake Hill, encompassing a city block in the heart of New Bedford’s historic downtown. The museum’s 20 galleries of art and science exhibits are open daily and wheelchair accessible. For more information, visit the Whaling Museum online at www.whalingmuseum.org.