New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Free Summertime Events At New Bedford Whaling NHP
On Thursday, July 11, AHA! (Art, History, Architecture) night, you’ll have the chance to walk the streets of 19th century New Bedford, hear the Youth Ambassador Program AND the Toe Jam Puppet Band, all in one evening! From 6:00-8:00 PM, travel to the past as the 1850s ladies Ruth and Abby, in conjunction with the Junior Ranger Service Corps, invite you to “walk” South Water Street as it was in 1852, and meet the people who lived and worked there. Out in the park garden, the Youth Ambassador Program (YAP!) performs an opening set for Toe Jam Puppet Band at 5:30pm as part of Kids Rule AHA! night, with Toe Jam Puppet Band to follow at 6 and 7 pm. The events take place at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park’s visitor center at 33 William Street, downtown New Bedford. Admission is free. YAP is a collaborative program where teens communicate national park themes through hip-hop culture, live events, and social media outreach. This includes creating music and videos about local, regional, and national themes and sharing them through sites such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites. YAP! has tackled a diverse range of topics including the 54th Regiment, sustainability, slavery, immigration, and more.
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park was established by Congress in 1996 to help preserve and interpret America’s nineteenth century whaling industry. The park, which encompasses a 13-block National Historic Landmark District, is the only National Park Service area addressing the history of the whaling industry and its influence on the economic, social, and environmental history of the United States. 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 wheelchair-accessible, and is free of charge. For more information, call the visitor center at 508-996-4095, go to www.nps.gov/nebe, or visit the park’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NBWNHP
Check out YAP’s “Walk with Me” music video. They give a great tour of New Bedford!
