New Bedford Whaling Museum announces successful completion of capital fundraising effort, "Lighting the Way: A Campaign for the Next Century"

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. -- Dec. 20, 2000: The New Bedford Whaling Museum announces the successful completion of its capital fundraising effort, "Lighting the Way: A Campaign for the Next Century." The Campaign, which was launched in 1996 with a goal of $10 million by 2003, has reached the finish line ahead of schedule and well above original projections. As it wraps up at year-end, the total raised will exceed $12.1 million from more than 900 donors.

"What we've been able to do is demonstrate that there is enormous support for the revitalization of New Bedford and for its cultural activities," said Executive Director Anne Brengle.

"This Campaign sparked a lot of wonderful firsts for both the Museum and New Bedford. It marked the largest funding ever raised by a cultural organization in the city, as well as the first million-dollar gift in the Museum's history," she said. "It has attracted enormous community, national and international interest and support, from the Foreign Ministry of Portugal to the generosity of local residents. We are so grateful to everyone who has helped to make this Campaign such a landmark success."

The good news was delivered to a gathering of upper-Ievel Campaign donors, volunteers, and staff at a special event at the Museum on Saturday evening, Dec. 16. The Jacobs Family Gallery erupted in applause as Campaign co-chairs Elizabeth H. Weinberg and William T. Kennedy unveiled the total and announced that the Museum had met the match necessary to receive the prestigious challenge grant from The Kresge Foundation. The terms of this $500,000 challenge, launched in March 2000, stipulated that the matching funds be raised by May 2001.

Also included in the Campaign total is $723,000 in federal funds secured by Senators Kennedy and Kerry and Congressman Frank this week, which will support the renovation of the half-scale model of the whaling bark Lagoda, install new permanent exhibits, and create computer links to facilitate distance learning and scholarly exchange. "This capstone funding will allow the Museum to take the next step in renovating its exhibits and increasing programmatic outreach," said Executive Director Anne Brengle.

Campaign funds were used to expand and renovate the six-building facilities of the 97-year-old institution. Features of the newly completed construction include:

• a new entrance and gallery with KOBO, a 66-foot blue whale skeleton, suspended overhead
• an exhibit on the ecology of whales
• a climate-controlled changing exhibit gallery
• a full-scale reproduction of a forecastle -- the crew's quarters on a whaling ship
• accessible restrooms
• an expanded Museum store
• an observation area for year-round viewing of New Bedford Harbor and Buzzards Bay

Established in 1903, the New Bedford Whaling Museum is a world-renowned museum that brings to life the rich history of American whaling in the age of sail and the city of New Bedford's role as the premier port of the whaling industry.

Located in the heart of the Whaling National Historical Park, the Museum features interactive exhibits, including the world's largest ship model; displays of fine and decorative arts; collections. of cultural artifacts, rare antiquities, scrimshaw and logbooks; and a 66-foot skeleton of a rare blue whale. The Museum is one of only 10 percent of museums nationwide to be accredited by the American Association of Museums.