Wharfinger Building in New Bedford, Massachusetts
Location: 52 Fisherman’s Wharf
The Wharfinger Building is located at the very northern end of the historic New Bedford wharf. I am not sure what the parking situation is since I have always walked to it, but if you plan on visiting the rest of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, I suggest using the public garage on Elm Street, which is a block from the park’s Visitor Center. From there it is a .4-mile walk to the Wharfinger Building. If you take National Park Planner’s New Bedford Historic District Walking Tour (2.25 miles), you will pass right by it.
In 1935 when the Wharfinger Building was constructed, it was the office for the “wharfinger,” the manager of the wharf. It was built by the Works Progress Administration, an organization created by President Franklin Roosevelt during the Great Depression to put men back to work.
Prior to 1937, fishermen had to travel to New York’s Fulton Fish Market in order to sell their catch. In 1937, a fish market was established in New Bedford, though the fishermen still had to travel about town to the different brokers to negotiate a deal. Once sold, the brokers transported the fish to New York by truck. It wasn’t until 1941 that a central fish auction was established. It moved around a number of times before settling on Fisherman’s Wharf just outside the Wharfinger Building in 1946. The next year the city built an addition to house the auction indoors.
Exhibit with a photo of the Wharfinger Building in 1947
The fish auctions at the Wharfinger Building continued until 1985 when a prolonged strike between fishermen and boat owners ended the practice. For the next ten years the system returned to the pre-auction days of private fish sales. It wasn’t until 1994 that another fish auction successfully launched on the New Bedford wharf, but this time in the South Terminal area.
Starting in 2000, the Wharfinger Building was the Waterfront Visitor Center for the City of New Bedford. However, it closed a few years ago, and it has been a seasonal restaurant since 2022. A Clam Bar is located next door, and the entire area is now a hub for boat tours of the harbor.
Wharfinger Building in New Bedford, Massachusetts (photo from 2015)
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Last updated on November 25, 2025
