This year marks the 100th year the New Bedford Whaling Museum has been at the Bourne Building on Johnny Cake Hill.

Caitlin McCaffery, the museum's Assistant Director of Development told WBSM's Phil paleologos they will be observing this centennial anniversary with a series of special events.

"That includes things like Curator tours by our very own Arthur Motta, Historian Michael Dyer, and our President James Russel so those will be at the museum and at other locations around the region," said McCaffery.

They will also be holding a photo contest involving one of their most famous exhibits, the Whale Ship Lagoda.

"You can submit up to three photos of the Lagoda on our website or Facebook page and you have a chance to win prizes like museum memberships and the Facebook will vote on those and the winner will be announced in September," said McCaffery.

The Lagoda Centennial Photo contest will accept submissions through August 20.

As for its strange name Curator Arthur Motta explains the ship was originally to be named Ladoga after a lake in Russia.

However, thanks to a spelling mistake all that changed.

"When the ship was built the sign painter, who painted the name on the ship, made a mistake and the tradition was always that you never renamed a ship and they said 'that's it, that's the name," said Motta

Another thing Motta says people may not be aware of is that the museum was built by Emily Bourne as a tribute to her father who was a well-known whaling agent.

"It was purpose built so that it could contain the world's largest ship model, which is called the Whale Ship Lagoda and the reason that the Lagoda was built as the model inside was because it was her father's favorite ship, so the whole thing was a memorial to Jonathan Bourne."

The museum will hold a Lagoda Centennial Gala at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the museum.

For more information about the gala and other events associated with the centennial visit the museum's website.
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