Kendall Whaling Museum closing soon?

Subject: Kendall Whaling Museum closing soon?
From: Pelrad
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 09:07 PM

I was waiting to post this until the deal goes through, but since the New Bedford Whaling Museum has it up on their "current news" webpage I guess it's okay to talk about. Sometime within the next year The Kendall Whaling Museum will be closing its doors, and the entire collection will be moved to the New Bedford museum. So if you want to see the museum intact once more, better schedule a visit soon.

This will not be a done deal until the KWM Board of Directors approves it, but from the way both New Bedford's publicity people and the folks at Kendall are talking, there's not much doubt that it will happen.

Subject: RE: Kendall Whaling Museum closing soon?
From: Pelrad
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 06:41 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Kendall Whaling Museum closing soon?
From: richardw
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 07:41 PM

Is that the one that was featured on the NBC Revenge of the wahle" the other night? It did not show much of the museum but I think that wa the name. Fascinating story.

Richard

Subject: RE: Kendall Whaling Museum closing soon?
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 07:55 PM

I noticed it in the credits of the movie. Is there a good reason why they are doing this? Seems a shame, really.

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: Kendall Whaling Museum closing soon?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 08:13 PM

Both the staff at the Kendall & Mystic were featured along with shots of Mystic (& most likely their whaleboats). Not ever being to the Kendall Whaling Museum (I'll have to visit it before it's no more) I don't know weither it was in there or not.
Barry

Subject: RE: Kendall Whaling Museum closing soon?
From: Pelrad
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 01:27 PM

I missed that film, so couldn't tell you. This is being done because the museum was privately funded by the Kendall family. The last donor (though not the last family member), died earlier this year and funding is apparently not forthcoming. I don't understand all of the politics of this as I am no longer "on the inside;" what I do know is that attempts to establish the museum's financial independence were not successful.

The museum really is worth seeing, if you can make the trip. The collections will all become part of the New Bedford Whaling Museum and will of course be displayed; I hope they don't get "lost" because there is so much to see there. What can I say, this museum holds a special place in my heart and it will be a sad day for me when it closes.

Here's a link to the website: http://www.kwm.org If you click "collections," you will see some of the museum's pieces. Click on the scroll in the upper left corner, too, it's really cool.

Barry, it's a half-hour south of Boston. Go for it! :-)

Subject: RE: Kendall Whaling Museum closing soon?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 03:12 PM

What a shame; I've been to both Kendall and New Bedford, and while of course the New Bedford is big and thorough and will still provide the depth of information, right there on the historic spot, there was something about the intimacy and accessibility of the Kendall museum that will be missed. I traveled through there with many a fourth grade class in my past.