Buzzards Bay, Panorama of a Whaling Voyage: (Roll 1, Section 3)
Sail Past Clark's Point and Follow the Panorama Into Buzzards Bay Toward the Atlantic Ocean
"The Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World" Roll 1, Section 5/44 (1848) by Benjamin Russell and Caleb Pierce PurringtonNew Bedford Whaling Museum
In this section of the "Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World", the longest painting in North America, created by Benjamin Russell and Caleb Pierce Purrington in 1848, you'll experience a portrayal of a whaling voyage that spans the globe.
You can view the Clark's Point Lighthouse, the Dumpling Rocks Lighthouse in Buzzards Bay, and vessels from many different locations as they traveled to and from the Atlantic Ocean.
Voyage MapNew Bedford Whaling Museum
"The Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World"
This highlighted section of the voyage is depicted here on this line. Scroll through this story to continue the voyage.
"The Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World" Roll 1, Section 5/44 (1848) by Benjamin Russell and Caleb Pierce PurringtonNew Bedford Whaling Museum
Section 5 of 44
Buzzards Bay
Clark’s Point lighthouse, built in 1818, is at the extreme end of the peninsula marking the entrance to the harbor. A full-rigged brig sails down the harbor past the Janus II.
Prominently in the foreground, the steamship Massachusetts, regularly employed as a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket since 1842, sometimes served as a tow boat for ships bound in to New Bedford Harbor.
Here she is shown in this capacity towing the ship Niger of New Bedford into the harbor.
Passing out into Buzzards Bay, Dumpling Rocks Lighthouse, built in 1828, marks the point off Round Hill in South Dartmouth.
"The Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World" Roll 1, Section 6/44 (1848) by Benjamin Russell and Caleb Pierce PurringtonNew Bedford Whaling Museum
Section 6 of 44
A pilot schooner accompanies the whale ship India as it approaches the entrance to Buzzards Bay.
"The Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World" Roll 1, Section 7/44 (1848) by Benjamin Russell and Caleb Pierce PurringtonNew Bedford Whaling Museum
Section 7 of 44
Out to the Atlantic
In 1847 a British entrepreneur bought a Chinese junk and sailed her from the South China Sea to London. The Chinese junk, Keying, passed Buzzards Bay under tow as it traveled from New York to Boston en route to London where it was to be exhibited.
A whale ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean under reduced sail approaches a storm in the Gulf Stream. Whale ships are best identifiable by the whaleboats hanging from davits alongside. An absence of whaleboats usually indicates a merchant ship.
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