National Historic Landmark

New Bedford Historic District

New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts
Listed
November 13, 1966
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
66000773

About this property

The New Bedford Historic District is a National Historic Landmark District in New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States, west of the community's waterfront. During the 19th century, when the city was the center of the American whaling industry, this was its downtown. After its decline in the early and mid-20th century, through the efforts of local activist groups the district has since been preserved and restored to appear much as it was during that period. Most of its buildings were erected between 1790 and 1855 by Russell Warren and other builders working in the Federal and Greek Revival architectural styles. Many of them reflect the legacy of whaling in the city's development. The district was designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL) and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. Later it was recognized as a local historic district and protected by local zoning. One building within it, the U.S. Customhouse, is the oldest such facility currently in use and has been independently recognized as an NHL. Since 1996 the district has also been a part of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.

Location

New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts
41.63519, -70.92336

Categories

INDUSTRYCOMMERCE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about New Bedford Historic District

This page lists New Bedford Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
Industrial
0.1 mi
U.S. Customhouse
Industrial
0.1 mi
Old Third District Courthouse
Industrial
0.1 mi
Lightship No. 114
Industrial
0.1 mi
Warren, Dr. Samuel, House
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

British Raid on New Bedford and Fairhaven
1778Revolutionary War
0.6 mi
British Raid on Bedford and Fairhaven
1778Revolutionary War
1.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was New Bedford Historic District listed on the National Register?

New Bedford Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 13, 1966.

What type of historic resource is New Bedford Historic District?

New Bedford Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is New Bedford Historic District a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. New Bedford Historic District has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for New Bedford Historic District?

The period of significance for New Bedford Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near New Bedford Historic District?

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