Wharfinger Building
Location: 52 Fisherman’s Wharf
The Wharfinger Building is located at the very northern end of the historic New Bedford wharf. I’m not sure what the parking situation is, 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.
Back 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.
Today the Wharfinger Building serves the Waterfront Visitor Center for the City of New Bedford and has a small exhibit on the business of buying and selling fish. It is open on weekdays from 8 AM to 4 PM year-round. On weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day, it is open from 9 AM to 4 PM. Weekend hours for the rest of the year are from 10 AM to 3 PM. Times can always change, so be sure to get the latest schedule on Destination New Bedford’s Waterfront Visitor Center web page.
Fishing industry exhibit at the Wharfinger Building.
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 1947, 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.
SCHEDULING YOUR TIME
The Wharfinger Building is very small, as is the exhibit area. I read through everything in about 15 minutes.
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Last updated on June 12, 2020
