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Southeastern Massachusetts | |
| New Bedford and Fall River MA have rich maritime histories and plenty to show for their former prosperity, much of it huge (like whales and battleships). | ||
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Close to world-famous Cape Cod is lesser-known Southeastern Massachusetts, with the cities of Fall River and New Bedford. Fall River, crowded with huge, handsome old 19th-century granite mill buildings, fell on hard times when the cloth and shoe factories moved south in the 20th century, but it has now found a new role as a factory-outlet shopping mecca. But the main reason people stop in Fall River is to visit Battleship Cove, the world's largest naval ship exhibit, featuring the World War II battleship USS Massachseutts and numerous other great ships (and submarines), both American and foreign. More... New Bedford was among New England's greatest 19th-century whaling ports—great enough that Herman Melville began his fiction masterpiece, Moby Dick, here. The New Bedford Whaling Museum on Johnny Cake Hill holds full-size whale skeletons, a i/2-scale model whaling ship, and many other amazing sights. The Seamen's Bethel (chapel) across the street was made famous in Melville's novel, and is still open. From New Bedford, ferryboats cruise to Martha's Vineyard and Cuttyhunk islands. More... From southeastern Massachusetts it's a short and easy drive to Cape Cod, Providence RI and Newport RI. —by Tom Brosnahan
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Centre Street, New Bedford MA.
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