2024 Events
Celebrating 50 Years in Their Homeport
SAVE THE DATES - SEPTEMBER 12 - 15, 2024
History - Heritage - Home:
DWM Celebrates 50 Years in New Bedford
It is with great pleasure that we announce the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Descendants of Whaling Masters, a grand event which we anticipate will excite, engage, and entertain all our membership. Scheduled to take place in our homeport of New Bedford starting on Thursday, September 12, 2024, and continuing until Sunday afternoon on September 15, the event will incorporate both our Annual Meeting and Annual Fall Tour, bringing us together formally and informally to enjoy a host of activities pertaining to our whaling heritage in the city known as the 19th century whaling capital of the world.
We recommend reserving hotel accommodations early, especially if you hope to stay nearby in downtown New Bedford where our itineraries are focused.
So, just what do we have planned? Here’s a tentative schedule:
Hotel Listing:
Fairfield Inn & Suites New Bedford – 774-634-2000
New Bedford Harbor Hotel – 844-207-9638
Residence Inn Dartmouth – 844-201-0370
Hampton Inn/Fairhaven – 508-990-8500
Seaport Resort and Marina/Fairhaven – 855-214-3079
SAVE THE DATES - SEPTEMBER 12 - 15, 2024
History - Heritage - Home:
DWM Celebrates 50 Years in New Bedford
It is with great pleasure that we announce the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Descendants of Whaling Masters, a grand event which we anticipate will excite, engage, and entertain all our membership. Scheduled to take place in our homeport of New Bedford starting on Thursday, September 12, 2024, and continuing until Sunday afternoon on September 15, the event will incorporate both our Annual Meeting and Annual Fall Tour, bringing us together formally and informally to enjoy a host of activities pertaining to our whaling heritage in the city known as the 19th century whaling capital of the world.
We recommend reserving hotel accommodations early, especially if you hope to stay nearby in downtown New Bedford where our itineraries are focused.
So, just what do we have planned? Here’s a tentative schedule:
- After everyone gets situated on Thursday, we’ll meet informally in the evening (at a place tbd) for dinner and cocktails – an ice breaker, if you will, to acquaint everyone with each other and to go over the next day’s schedule.
- Then on Friday, there will be guided tours of the Whaling Museum, a narrated bus tour of Old Bedford Village and a visit to the historic Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum, a mansion that was built for whaling merchant William Rotch, Jr. In the evening, we’ll attend a very special live dramatic presentation of excerpts from DWM’s Whaling Letters publication portrayed by actors Lucy Bly and Ray Veary.
- On Saturday, we have a guided visit to the Seamen’s Bethel where Herman Melville famously took inspiration for an early chapter in his classic novel, Moby Dick. Afterwards, we’ll be off for a harbor tour that launches from the dock where many of our ancestors embarked on their long whaling voyages. Throughout the day, there are optional activities available, as well.
- In the evening, we’ll all meet for the 50th Annual Meeting at the historic James Arnold Mansion where dinner will be served, after which Spinner Publications publisher Joseph Thomas will present a program entitled “Photographs of a Whaling Port”, a talk featuring historic images of New Bedford, the city that lit the world with its whaling industry. We’ll cap off the day with an informal gathering at a downtown pub (tbd) – for those who still have energy to burn.
- Sunday morning, we’ll participate in special services at the Seamen’s Bethel reserved for our group. It’s brunch downtown after that, and group photos to follow. The rest of the day is for you to decide.
Hotel Listing:
Fairfield Inn & Suites New Bedford – 774-634-2000
New Bedford Harbor Hotel – 844-207-9638
Residence Inn Dartmouth – 844-201-0370
Hampton Inn/Fairhaven – 508-990-8500
Seaport Resort and Marina/Fairhaven – 855-214-3079
~ 2023 EVENTS ~
DWM 49th Annual Meeting
July 22, 2023
noon - 3 p.m.
James Arnold Mansion
a/k/a Wamsutta Club
427 County Street, New Bedford, MA 02740
Guest Speaker:
Umass Professor Timothy D. Walker
"Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad"*
*Books were available for sale and signing at the Annual Meeting. However, if you wish to purchase a book, UMASS Press is offering a significant discount of 30 percent. You may place your order with the code: MAS022 at: umasspress.com/9781625345929/sailing-to-freedom/ or 1-800-621-2736
CLICK HERE FOR ANNUAL MEETING PICTURE GALLERY - photos by Dan Rodrigues
July 22, 2023
noon - 3 p.m.
James Arnold Mansion
a/k/a Wamsutta Club
427 County Street, New Bedford, MA 02740
Guest Speaker:
Umass Professor Timothy D. Walker
"Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad"*
*Books were available for sale and signing at the Annual Meeting. However, if you wish to purchase a book, UMASS Press is offering a significant discount of 30 percent. You may place your order with the code: MAS022 at: umasspress.com/9781625345929/sailing-to-freedom/ or 1-800-621-2736
CLICK HERE FOR ANNUAL MEETING PICTURE GALLERY - photos by Dan Rodrigues
Hudson New York Outing
September 13 - 15, 2023
Visit the Outing Gallery for Photos
We were royally welcomed to Hudson with visits to the Robert Jenkins House, the Plumb-Bronson House, and Olana, home of artist Frederic Church. Special thanks go out to DWM Vice President Rich Taber and to Virginia Martin of the Hendrick Hudson Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, who assisted Rich in coordinating and planning our schedule of events.
The most interesting "Whaling in Hudson" Library Program
presented by Carl Whitbeck can be viewed in its entirety on Youtube.
September 13 - 15, 2023
Visit the Outing Gallery for Photos
We were royally welcomed to Hudson with visits to the Robert Jenkins House, the Plumb-Bronson House, and Olana, home of artist Frederic Church. Special thanks go out to DWM Vice President Rich Taber and to Virginia Martin of the Hendrick Hudson Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, who assisted Rich in coordinating and planning our schedule of events.
The most interesting "Whaling in Hudson" Library Program
presented by Carl Whitbeck can be viewed in its entirety on Youtube.