New Bedford is a city brimming with history that predates the first European settlers to the region in the 17th century. Most New Bedford folk are protective of the city's historic past, and with good reason.

The Wampanoag tribes roamed southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island for over 12,000 years before ever laying an eye on a white European. The Wampanoags were fishermen, whalers and farmers.

Englishman Bartholomew Gosnold "discovered" New Bedford in 1602. He sailed aboard the small Dartmouth bark Concord after exploring the Elizabeth Islands.

Others quickly followed Gosnold's lead and the rest is history.

Mitchell: New Bedford's Fort Taber Park Is Not "Abandoned"
Photo courtesy of Frank C. Grace/Trig Photography
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An important part of New Bedford's rich history continues to be its proximity to the water. Through the years, our location has helped the city to succeed through whaling, fishing and industry. Today, New Bedford's deep water port continues to provide opportunities.

New Bedford's south-facing coastline made it important to the nation's defense system. Fort Taber was built between 1857 and 1871, and while it was never used for defensive purposes, it remains an integral part of our rich history.

Fort Taber is the centerpiece of the 50-acre Fort Taber Park at the tip of the Clarks Point peninsula.

Mitchell: New Bedford's Fort Taber Park Is Not "Abandoned"
Greg Desrosiers/TSM
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Sometimes even the vaguest slight from an outsider can get a local's dander up, so tread lightly. Such was the case when I recently spotted a brief piece on Atlas Obscura online that seemed to suggest the fort had been "abandoned" by the city.

Mind you, the piece was not mean or vicious but referred to Fort Taber Park as a "historic seaside park featuring explorable, abandoned military structures."

Atlas Obscura says, "It's a fantastic place to stroll and explore," but suggests you "explore at your own risk" as "this is an unsupervised site."

Mitchell: New Bedford's Fort Taber Park Is Not "Abandoned"
Google Maps
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City spokesperson Jonathan Darling said that's hardly the case.

"The last word anyone from here would use to describe it (Fort Taber Park) would be 'abandoned,'" Darling said. "Fort Taber Park is cared for and maintained by multiple City departments in conjunction with the National Park Service."

"Thousands of residents and visitors explore this beautiful piece of New Bedford," he said.

Anyone who picnics, walks, plays or watches a sunset at Fort Taber Park would surely agree that it is anything but abandoned.

New Bedford's Exercise Tiger Memorial Ceremonies

Over the years, New Bedford has annually held a memorial for Exercise Tiger at Fort Taber.

Gallery Credit: Townsquare Media

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Gallery Credit: Tim Weisberg

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