Legends of the Hill
Explore the legacies of the men and women whose lives helped define the spirit of New Bedford’s harbor.
Herman Melville
Herman Melville (1819–1891) Herman Melville, one of America’s greatest novelists, found inspiration for his most...
Sarah Rotch
New Bedford is home to many historical figures and that includes our very own Sarah Rotch Arnold! Born on June 3,...
William Rotch Jr.
William Rotch Jr. (1759–1850) Carrying forward the vision of his father and grandfather, William Rotch Jr. (1759–1850)...
Enoch Mudge
Reverend Enoch Mudge (1776–1850) Enoch Mudge was a pioneering Methodist minister and the first native New Englander to...
Charles Waln Morgan
Charles Waln Morgan (1796–1861) Charles Waln Morgan was a prominent New Bedford merchant and one of the city’s leading...
Mary Rotch
Long before the Seamen’s Bethel rose above Johnny Cake Hill, one woman’s quiet conviction helped shape the moral and...
Paul Cuffee
Paul Cuffe (1759–1817) Paul Cuffe was a pioneering African American and Wampanoag mariner, merchant, and...
John Avery Parker
John Avery Parker (1769–1853) John Avery Parker was one of New Bedford’s most prominent businessmen and community...
Clara Bow
Clara Bow was the third child of Sarah and Robert Bow. Growing up in a poor Brooklyn neighborhood, Clara faced a...
George R. Phillips
George R. Phillips (1822–1897) George R. Phillips was a prominent New Bedford merchant and civic leader who played a...
Henrietta P. Humphrey
The very first Memorial Day Service hosted by the New Bedford Port Society was in 1947. In years past, a bagpiper...
Thomas Crapo
Thomas Crapo (1841–1899) Thomas Crapo was a daring New Bedford mariner whose bold adventure captured international...