Port Journal
Your view into the latest news, events & updates from the Port Society.
Join Us for the 2026 Rememberence & Blessing of the Fleet
As spring turns to summer, the New Bedford Port Society invites the community to join us for our Annual Memorial Day...
Thank You for Supporting Our 2025 Annual Campaign
Thank You for Supporting Our 2025 Annual CampaignDear Friends and Supporters, On behalf of the New Bedford Port...
Help Support the Herman Melville Statue
The New Bedford Port Society is proud to support the creation of a new public statue honoring Herman Melville, one of...
Christmas Candlelight Service 2025 Highlights
Relive the warmth and spirit of the 2025 Christmas Candlelight Service at the historic Seamen’s Bethel in New Bedford....
Inter Church Council 24th Annual New Year’s Eve Worship Service
Wednesday, December 31st, 2025 5:00pm The Seamen's Bethel 15 Johnny Cake Hill New Bedford, MA
Moby-Dick Marathon: Father Mapple’s Sermon at the Seamen’s Bethel
January 3, 2025, at 1:30 PM, The New Bedford Port Society is proud to once again be part of the annual Moby-Dick...
Support the Seamen’s Bethel and Mariner’s Home Through the 2025 Annual Campaign
For nearly 200 years, the New Bedford Port Society has preserved the sacred spaces that tell the story of our maritime...
Join us for the 2025 Christmas Candlelight Service
Dec 21st, 2025 @4pm 15 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA 02740 The New Bedford Port Society is excited to be hosting...
In Honor of Bruce J. Oliveira
Assistant Treasurer, Visionary, and Steward of New Bedford’s Heritage The New Bedford Port Society is deeply saddened...
Thank you for joining us at The Harvest of The Sea
We'd like to thank everyone who showed up to our Harvest of the Sea this weekend! We were so excited to see our...
Harvest of the Sea: A Fishermen’s Thanksgiving Service
Date & Time: Sunday, November 23, 2025 | 3:00 PM Location: Seamen’s Bethel, 15 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA...
Rotch Family History
Long before New Bedford became a world whaling capital, the Rotch family was already shaping New England’s maritime...
The Rotch family’s vision and enterprise laid the groundwork for New Bedford’s rise as a great port
Long before New Bedford became a world whaling capital, the Rotch family was already shaping New England’s maritime...
Catalpa Anniversary: The Greatest Escape in Irish History
This October, Seamen’s Bethel in New Bedford will host a special commemoration of one of the most daring rescues in...
The Creation of the Herman Melville Statue: An Interview with Stefanie Rocknak
New Bedford Port Society President Phil Oliveira sits down with Sculptor Stephanie Rocknak to discuss the Herman...
Behind the Artifacts: Stories from Seamen’s Bethel
At our recent Event on the Hill, curator Rachel Rossi shared a closer look at some of the remarkable artifacts housed...
The Cenotaphs of Seamen’s Bethel: Stories Etched in Stone
When you step inside the Seamen’s Bethel on Johnny Cake Hill, one of the first things you notice are the marble...
Thank You for Joining Us on the Hill
The New Bedford Port Society extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us for this year’s Event on the Hill....
“Sharing” Presented by Wacky Hat Productions
This short film, produced by Wacky Hat Productions, was filmed on location at the New Bedford Port Society’s Seamen’s...
“The Letter” A Short Film Experience
Within the quiet walls of the Seamen’s Bethel, stories of loss, survival, and reflection have echoed for generations....
Scenes from the Seamen’s Bethel: Moby-Dick Marathon 2024
Each year, readers and Melville enthusiasts from around the world gather in New Bedford for the annual Moby-Dick...
Moby-Dick Marathon 2023: Readings from the Seamen’s Bethel
The annual Moby-Dick Marathon at the New Bedford Whaling Museum honors Herman Melville’s enduring connection to this...