A long-awaited expansion of the New Bedford Whaling Museum will now happen, thanks to a nearly $2 million gift from Qualcom executive Dr. Irwin Jacobs, a New Bedford native, and his wife Joan. 

The gift is beleived to be the largest ever made to the Whaling Museum.

The Chairman of the Museum's Board of Trustees, the Hon. Armand Fernandes says the gift now gives the green-light for construction and ground-breaking in 2014.

He praised Dr. Jacobs for never overlooking his hometown....

The expansion will include a new Education Center and Research Library that will quadruple classroom space.

The new space will also house the Museum archives and collections, create four new galleries, and extend an observation deck overlooking New Bedford Harbor.

 

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