Seamen's Bethel

South Shore


Across from the Whaling Museum, this small chapel was a refuge from the rigors and stresses of maritime life. Melville immortalized it in Moby-Dick, where he wrote: ‘In this same New Bedford there stands a Whaleman’s Chapel, and few are the moody fishermen…who fail to make a Sunday visit to the spot.’

This is where the Moby-Dick Marathon reading takes place every year on the first weekend in January.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby South Shore attractions

1. New Bedford Whaling Museum

0.02 MILES

The centerpiece of New Bedford, this excellent, hands-on museum remembers the town's heyday as a whaling port. The museum occupies seven buildings…

2. Battleship Cove

13.25 MILES

‘You sank my battleship!’ This cry was ne’er heard aboard the mighty USS Massachusetts, a hulk of a craft that survived 35 battles in WWII, gunning down…

3. Old Silver Beach

14.72 MILES

Of all Falmouth's beaches, none is finer than Old Silver Beach. This long, sandy stretch of beach attracts scores of college students, families and day…

4. Woods Hole Science Aquarium

14.97 MILES

The small Woods Hole Science Aquarium has little flash and dazzle, but it does have unusual sea-life specimens, local fish and the Homarus americanus (aka…

5. Goosewing Beach

15.04 MILES

Lovely, ocean-facing Goosewing Beach is the only good public beach, as the prime beach land is privately owned. Parking costs $12 (weekdays) or $14 …

6. WHOI Ocean Science Exhibit Center

15.27 MILES

You'll gain insights into the work of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution at this museum, where interactive exhibits include a full-size model of the…

7. Carolyn's Sakonnet Vineyard

15.49 MILES

This popular vineyard has free guided tours, a seasonal cafe and daily tastings for $14: great value for sampling seven local wines.

8. Highfield Hall & Gardens

16.21 MILES

Saved from the wrecking ball in the 1990s and lovingly restored by the community, Highfield Hall dates from 1878 and was one of the early summer mansions…