New Bedford, MA

Wednesday evening found me over nighting in New Bedford, MA. This was the view form my hotel window at sunset.

The history of New Bedford as recorded by the English began four centuries ago and pre-dates the Pilgrims of Plymouth by 18 years. English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold investigated New Bedford's harbor on May 31, 1602 (Julian Calendar). Gosnold's expedition set out from Falmouth, England, and was financed in part by the Earl of Southampton, a patron of Shakespeare. Gosnold named Cape Cod for the abundance of fish he observed there; he named Martha's Vineyard for his beloved daughter, Martha, and named the Elizabeth Islands for his queen, Elizabeth I. Some historians place Gosnold's landing on New Bedford's mainland shore at "Smoking Rocks," a rocky outcropping that once existed approximately west-northwest of Palmer's Island. The site is now part of the South Terminal.

In the full glory of the days of whaling prosperity New Bedford sent out more whale ships than all other American ports combined. In 1857, when the population was about 22,000 the peak was reached, with 329 vessels engaged, representing an investment of $20 million and a yearly catch of $10 million. At this zenith, New Bedford was the richest city per capita in the world. However, from that year onward the industry steadily declined. The fleet had succeeded in hunting the leviathan to every corner of the globe, almost to the point of oblivion. In addition, the price of whale oil dropped steadily after petroleum was discovered in Pennsylvania in 1859.

For more visit: http://www.ci.new-bedford.ma.us/DestinationNewBedford.htm