Wow. Breathtaking. Overwhelming. I couldn't take it all in. So, so much to see. Beautifully, but painstakingly laid out. Lots of information. An amazing collection. I am so, so glad I went. As I keep on saying I have an extremely modest (& as such very realistic) 'Bucket List'. Going to this museum was on that list. Exactly a year ago I went to the 'Nantucket Whaling Museum'. These are sibling museums. I wanted to see both. Now I have. I am glad. I actually would like to go back to the New Bedford one. I think it is my (advanced) age, but I just can't digest all that information in one go. Need to do it in multiple bites.
That they don't have a museum book describing everything they have on display is INEXCUSABLE. Amazes me that museums don't see it as a prerequisite. A book would have definitely helped me. I could read up on stuff.
Luckily the staff is wonderful, way helpful & knowledgeable. One of them explained the 'Resolute Desk' on display! There are THREE (3) Resolute Desks. The largest is the one at the White House. Did you know that. They do have some amazing artwork & the scrimshaw room is breathtaking. WOW.
A very frank & one might even say 'woke' museum. They are very upfront & blunt. They appear to have won awards for being CANDID. That word did cross my mind. They take great pains to point out how 'Emily Bourne', their greatest benefactor, might have been a racist! Wow. They didn't have to do that, but they felt compelled. I needed help from a very knowledgeable young curator to understand what they were getting at.
Some of the labeling is CUTE! If they have artifacts whose creator is NOW NOT known, rather than saying that they say 'Artist PREVIOUSLY known ...' (or equivalent). Made me smile.
One of the most memorable museums I have visited & I visit a LOT OF MUSEUMS (& have visited quite a lot around the world). Highly recommended. If you had to choose between this one and Nantucket, I would say 'New Bedford'. You will NOT be dissapointed. I can promise you that. You will learn a lot, you will see a lot, & you will leave with lots of images in your head.
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