New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center Formed, Will Open In 2016

Commercial fishing in New Bedford, past and present, will be the focus of a new Downtown attraction coming in 2016.

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center has been formed, and Laura Orleans of the Working Waterfront Festival has been named Executive Director.

The center will be located in the Mariners Home and construction will begin in the spring of next year.

Orleans tells WBSM's Taylor Cormier, the center will offer exhibits and programs about the history and culture of the fishing industry. It will also be a place for research....

Orleans says she'll spend the next year or so organizing focus groups to gather ideas from the fishing industry and the community at large.

The center is scheduled to open in the summer of 2016.