The Secret Free Massachusetts Attraction You Never Knew Existed

Right inside the heart of the Whaling City lies a free attraction you never knew existed. The New Bedford Whaling Museum has been a popular destination for decades. From field trips to out-of-town tourists, millions have walked through the doors to take in the rich history, but did you know you can experience a portion of it for absolutely no cost?

We caught up with Associate Curator of Science and Research Robert Rocha, who let us in on the best kept secret on the SouthCoast.

"What I think is really neat is that when this space was built and opened to the public in the summer of 2000, the primary donors, Irwin and Joan Jacobs...they stipulated that this space is always open to the public for free," Rocha said.

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What Can You See in the Free Museum Space?

The space he's referring to is The Jacobs Family Gallery, the space that greets you when you first walk through the doors.

"At any time, any day you wanted to come in just to see the skeletons or the display case with the various whale parts in it, or check out the sand table or the whale tail sculptures or pick up a whale vertebra or go in the giant whale heart based on the heart of a 100-foot blue whale, you can come in and do that at any time," Rocha said.

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If you haven't visited the Whaling Museum in a while, you're in for a treat. More interactive spaces, a large tank featuring various sea life and even audio stations have been added.

"One has video and audio explaining how baleen whales feed, how toothed whales feed, how they communicate and also how they move," Rocha said. "There's another one that has 12 of the most interesting, coolest whale sounds or dolphin sounds that you'll hear in the ocean."

A Passion for Marine History and Education

In speaking with Rocha, it's easy to see the passion he has for the museum. He's been working there for more than 20 years. "I love the fact that I learn something new every week, almost every day. I work in a world-class museum with some really great people," he said.