"The Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World" Roll 1, Section 2/44

[ The Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World is viewed from right to left ]

With the Unitarian Church at the head of Union Street, this view also shows much of the city center, specifically the courthouse on the hill, and the flag marking the site of the Seamen’s Bethel. South of Union Street there are more neighborhoods including churches, residences, commercial structures, the steam ferry wharf, and still more commercial wharves. Anchored in the stream is a U.S. Revenue Cutter, probably meant to represent the USRC McLane which was stationed at New Bedford in the 1830s. The working harbor is full of small craft including two men in a rowboat towing a raft of logs.

Further south, the marine traffic includes an outbound whaler, the ship Courier, shown hove-to in the stream preparing to receive the last of her crew. A full-rigged ship at anchor, the ship William Hamilton, is shown taking her crew onboard preparing to sail on a whaling voyage to the Indian Ocean. In the background two men in a rowboat are towing a schooner upriver. A tall signal flag on shore announces the arrival of a whaler in the outer bay. The south end of the city is largely residential, and the austere granite Greek Revival façade of the Joseph Grinnell mansion is shown in its place on the hilltop. The Grinnell mansion still stands today.