Saving Mariners' Souls - New Bedford, MA
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Metro2
N 41° 38.100 W 070° 55.411
19T E 339787 N 4611039
This sign is located at Seamen's Bethel...which was referred to as the "Whaleman's Chapel" in a scene from Moby Dick.
Waymark Code: WMKFF9
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 04/06/2014
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member cache_test_dummies
Views: 5

Seamen's Bethel is part of the New Bedford Historic District, a National Historic Landmark also known as the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.
This Park Service sign has photos of the chapel and reads:

"Saving Mariners' Souls

After months at sea, many whaling men were unable to resist the temptations of this port city. In 1832, the New Bedford Port Society for the Moral Improvement of Seamen opened this mariners' chapel 'to protect the rights and interests of Seamen, and to furnish them with ... moral, intellectual and religious instruction.'
By supplying Bibles and nondenominational services, the Bethel (chapel) helped to combat all those influences to which the port's mariners fell prey - liquor, licentiousness, and dishonest merchants. A survey in 1852 found 37 'liquor shops' and 21 'houses of ill repute' in this ward alone."
Agency Responsible for Placement: National Park Service

Agency Responsible for Placement (if not in list above): N/A

Year Placed: unknown

County: Bristol

City/Town Name: New Bedford

Relevant Web Site: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:
When logging a Massachusetts Historic Marker, we ask that you not only describe your visit, but to upload a picture from it. The picture does not have to be of the marker - one picture of the marker is enough. But a photo of you standing next to the marker or a photograph the subject of the marker - those are examples of possible photographs to upload.
Search for...
Geocaching.com Google Map
Google Maps
MapQuest
Bing Maps
Nearest Waymarks
Nearest Massachusetts Historical Markers
Nearest Geocaches
Create a scavenger hunt using this waymark as the center point
Recent Visits/Logs:
Date Logged Log User Rating  
Don.Morfe visited Saving Mariners' Souls  -  New Bedford, MA 06/26/2022 Don.Morfe visited it
Lat34North visited Saving Mariners' Souls  -  New Bedford, MA 08/31/2014 Lat34North visited it
Metro2 visited Saving Mariners' Souls  -  New Bedford, MA 07/10/2010 Metro2 visited it

View all visits/logs