THE GOVERNMENT NEWS DESKPERMANENT NPS STORY ARCHIVE
Organized by publication date and destination. Each story retains its permanent State & Nation address and official NPS source.
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The National Park Service has selected Laurel Racine as superintendent of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park in Massachusetts. Racine assumed her new role on Feb.9, 2026.
Official NPS source
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park has announced winter hours of operation for the park’s visitor center. The visitor center, located at 33 William Street will be open to the public Wednesday - Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This change in hours begins December 1, 2024 and remains in effect until March 31, 2025. The Visitor Center will be closed on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. In addition, the Visitor Center will be closed on the following holidays Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
Official NPS source
New Bedford, MA – The Water We’re Swimming In, a sculpture created by artist Elaine Alder made of marine debris collected off the coast of Massachusetts, will be unveiled on Sept. 22 at 10:00 AM at Captain Paul Cuffe Park, located on the corner of Johnny Cake Hill and Union Street, part of the New Bedford Whaling Museum campus. The exhibit is a partnership between New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the New Bedford Whaling Museum to bring attention to marine debris issues in New Bedford.
Official NPS sourceNew Bedford Whaling National Historical Park has announced that a daily screening of the award-winning documentary “Love Letters for New Bedford” will be shown at 3:30 PM Wednesday – Sunday in the park visitor center theater starting June 1, 2024. New Bedford filmmaker Ethan de Aguiar created this documentary to celebrate New Bedford’s artists and champion the city’s growing and vibrant creative economy. The almost 18-minute film contains interviews of 18 local artists, educators, poets, journalists, authors, vocalists, and others, who shared their love for New Bedford and its citizens. Once completed, the film was submitted to 33 film festivals, gaining 15 Official Selections and 4 Awards. The film received International Wins for Best Documentary from the Portugal International Film Festival, 2023 Texas Arthouse Festival, Block Island Film Festival, and Screaming Ostrich International Film Festival.
Official NPS source
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park has announced its programming commemorating Black History Month during February 2024. This year’s theme chosen by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH®) is African Americans and the Arts. New Bedford is known for its rich culture and historical artistic significance, and we celebrate today’s artists of the African diaspora who come from every corner of the globe. Two of New Bedford’s own, Iva Brito and Eden Soares will be telling the stories of their art and inspiration. In addition, the 1850s Ladies will explore New Bedford and Boston anti-slavery societies and how crafts became a part of the abolitionist cause. Finally, the park will show the movie, 12 Years A Slave, directed by African Brit Steve McQueen and tells the story of Solomon Northup, who was kidnapped and sold into enslavement from freedom.
Official NPS source
A variety of National Park Service (NPS) employees, volunteers and partners were honored at a ceremony to Celebrate America’s National Parks and the Dedication of Those Who Serve.
Official NPS source