New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
The Visitor Center and other National Park Service facilities in New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park re-open to visitors today. These have been closed since October 1 due to the lapse in Congressional appropriations. Museums, historical sites, and businesses in the park continue to remain open according to their regular schedules. “America’s 401 national parks are open for business!” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “The professional men and women of the National Park Service are waiting to greet visitors with open arms and help you have the time of your life in these national treasures. Please come out and enjoy the Fall in some of the most spectacular places on the planet.”
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park’s free Whales Tales and Sails story hour, for children from 0 to 5 and their caregivers, will resume at 10am on Friday, October 25, and ongoing programs such as the Dock-u-mentaries film series and park AHA! programming will pick back up in November on their regularly scheduled days. School groups with field trip reservations can plan on arriving at their scheduled times, and individuals and organizations issued special use permits for park facilities can proceed with planning their activities.
The National Park visitor center is located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. It is open seven days a week, from 9 AM-5 PM, and offers information, exhibits, and a free orientation movie every hour on the hour from 10 AM-4 PM. The visitor center is accessible to all. Admission is free. For additional information and schedules, go to the park website at www.nps.gov/nebe, call 508-996-4095, or visit the park’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NBWNHP.
