New Bedford Waterfront History on Display at Fishing Heritage Center

Learn about the New Bedford fishing industry, its past and present, by visiting the Fishing Heritage Center in June and July. It will have some informative exhibits planned, along with some fun-filled events, too.

Executive Director Laura Orleans and Programs Manager Joe Ritter visited Townsquare Sunday to discuss the upcoming schedule.

"'Ceremonies and Celebrations' will open on Thursday, July 3 and highlight four different waterfront events," Ritter said. "We'll be looking at the first 10 years of the New Bedford Scallop Festival, from 1958 to 1968."

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According to Ritter, the scallop festival was created to be a marketing tool to promote the sale and consumption of scallops.

"Hard to believe in the Port of New Bedford, which is known today worldwide for its harvesting of scallops," he said.

The exhibit will also spotlight the Blessing of The Fleet, a tradition that began in 1969, the Working Waterfront Festival which was started by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, and the Fisherman's Memorial Service, which happens every Memorial Day on the waterfront.

The "Casting a Wider Net" exhibit is on the move. The exhibit was created to bring attention to people and ethnic groups who work in the fishing industry but have not been in the limelight. Orleans said those communities include Cape Verdean, Vietnamese, Puerto Rican and Central American groups.

"We created a really cool exhibit which can be listened to in different languages," Orleans said. "We are moving the exhibit first to the Verdean Vets Memorial Hall on Purchase Street. It will open on July 2. It's important because this is the 50th anniversary of Cape Verdean Independence."

Also at the FHC, applications are now available for the Center's "Something Fishy" summer program. The free program offers two one-week sessions in July, where youngsters who are about to enter the fourth grade in September can learn about commercial fishing and the Port of New Bedford. More information is at the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center website, with applications due by June 20.

Check out the free Maritime Folk Music Concert with Janie Meneely and Rob van Sante on June 12 at 7 p.m. at the FHC, located at 38 Bethel Street in New Bedford.

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