Fort Taber~Fort Rodman Historical Association

Restoration, preservation and perpetuation of Fort Rodman and it's surroundings.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the Military Museum will be closed to public access, beginning Tuesday, March 17, through at least Sunday, March 22. We appreciate your understanding. For more information please see the City of New Bedford website

HISTORY OF THE FORT

1800 - New Bedford became the world’s foremost whaling port by the middle of the nineteenth-century. The port’s upriver location provided natural protection from coastal gales, but not the storms of national and international controversy. A British raid during the American Revolution demonstrated the vulnerability of the port in 1778 when seventy vessels and twenty-six storehouses were left in ruin. The need for coastal defense was obvious again during the War of 1812... see timeline

MUSEUM HISTORY

The Fort Taber Fort Rodman military Museum opened in August 2004. Our collection consisted of twenty photographs, two shelf units and a display case. Since then it has grown in every way with new exhibited items, more volunteers, physical size with the construction of a new addition, and most importantly visitors. Our average annual visitor rate is over 8,500 people, resulting in the museum being hailed as the “biggest little military museum in the... read more

VISITORS IN 2017 TO DATE

CUMULATIVE NO. OF VISITORS

NUMBER OF MUSEUM DONORS (ARTIFACTS)

VOLUNTEER HOURS TO DATE (2017)

LATEST NEWS & EVENTS

SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AT FORT RODMAN

FTFRHA Featured in MassRealty Article

The Fort Taber-Fort Rodman Historical Association is committed to preserving the military history of the fort and its surroundings. Fort Rodman doesn’t only offer historical information; it is an important memorial dedicated to the legacy of the area’s veterans and their service to the nation. Moreover, the association aims to demonstrate how the fort is…

Civil War-era cannons buried at Fort Taber in New Bedford?

NEW BEDFORD — More than 30 iron, Civil War-era cannons could be buried on the Fort Taber park site in the city’s South End, say backers of a proposal to conduct an archaeological study and potentially dig for the historical weaponry. Ward 6 City Councilor Joseph P. Lopes submitted a letter and supporting documents from…

Merchant Mariner Memorial Rededication

On Saturday, November 19, 2016 the Fort Taber~Fort Rodman Historical Association hosted a ceremony in honor of “the men who sailed the Liberty Ships” – Merchant Mariners of WWII. More than 59 people attended the ceremony. Speakers included Joe Langlois, FTFRH President; Bob Bromley, Vice President & museum curator who spoke about the history of…

Fort Taber curator to speak at Rochester Historical Society May 17

Rochester — The next meeting of the Rochester Historical Society will be on May 17 at 7 p.m., at the East Rochester Church & Museum, 355 County Rd. Robert Bromley, Curator of the Military Museum at Fort Taber in New Bedford will be the speaker at the meeting. The Military Museum opened in 2004 with…

Whiskey Tasting Fundraiser

Whiskey Tasting Fundraiser to benefit Fort Taber~Fort Rodman Historical Association, Friday, June 2, 2017. To be held at Wamsutta Club, 427 County Street, New Bedford, MA, 6-10PM. Tickets $40 in advance, $45 at the door. Whiskey tasting 6-9PM. Music by Jazz Guitarist Jim Robitaille. Hot and cold hor’s d’oeuvres, cash bar. A variety of domestic…

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