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Announcements
We're excited to announce a new virtual tour of Fort Rodman-Fort Taber Park! Check out our virtual tour to see a stunning drone view of the fort's interior and a ground-level perspective of the stone fort. We hope you enjoy it!
A big thank you to Peter Hanney of Hanney Property Solutions for his fantastic camera work, drone footage, and editing that made this tour possible.
LATEST NEWS & EVENTS
SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AT FORT RODMAN
October 2026 Lights of Peace Flag to Honor the Memory of Frederick Hall WWII Naval Veteran
During the month of October, the 85th Lights for Peace flag to fly at the Fort Taber–Fort Rodman Military Museum honors the memory of Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class (BM/1/C) Frederick Hall, who served in the United States Navy as a Seabee during WWII. Frederick Hall, or “Fred” as he was known, was born on January…
Returning to Normal Operation Wednesday Sept 30, 2026
The Fort Taber~Fort Rodman Museum will be open regular times starting Wednesday Sept. 30, 2026. Hours of operation are Wed.-Sun. 1-4pm. Please Come Join Us
2026 Nor’Easter UPDATE
The City of New Bedford is Closing the Fort Taber Park at 8:00PM tonight Thursday 9/24/2026 until further notice due to the Nor’easter. The Fort Taber~Fort Rodman Military Museum & Veterans Memorial will be closed due the Park closure. It looks like we will reopen on Wednesday, if all goes well. We will keep you…
Speaker for October 2026
We are proud to announce that the museum is again hosting our history speak series. We are kicking it off with speaker Col. Ryan Cherry USMC Ret. he will be speaking on his book Readback on October 18, 2026, at 2:pm at the Fort Taber~Fort Rodman Military Museum & Veterans Memorial 1000C So. Rodney French…
Lights of Peace Flag for September, 2026 to Honor the Memory of LTC Joseph F. Napoli US Army Vietnam War Veteran
During the month of September, the 84th Lights for Peace flag to fly at the Fort Taber–Fort Rodman Military Museum honors the memory of Joseph Francis Napoli of Marion, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army who served his country with unwavering devotion from 1953 to 1976. As his family shared, “What began…
August 2026 Lights of Peace Flag to Honor the Memory of MSG Alan A. Faber U.S. Air Force Veteran
During the month of August, the 83rd Lights for Peace flag to fly at the Fort Taber – Fort Rodman Military Museum honors the memory of Master Sergeant Alan A. Faber, a United States Air Force veteran who served in the Vietnam War as well as in support of Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Enduring…
Museum Hours for July 4. 2026 and the America 250th Anniversary
The Fort Taber~Fort Rodman Military Museum & Veterans Memorial 1000C So. Rodney French Blvd New Bedford, Ma. will be open The 4th of July from 10AM-4PM. Come celebrate the 4th with our Veteran Ancestors. There will be light refreshments. Pick up a copy of the Declaration of Independence and an American Flag Free while supplies…
Lights of Peace Flag for July 2026 to Honor the Memory of Sgt. Samuel M. Demers USMC Veteran
During the month of July, the 82nd Lights for Peace flag to fly at the Fort Taber – Fort Rodman Military Museum honors the memory of Sgt. Samuel M. Demers, a United States Marine Veteran from New Bedford, who passed away on June 20, 2022, at the age of 25. Demers was born and raised…
Lights of Peace Flag June 2026 to Honor the Memory of John W. Remedis, Jr. “Johnny Angel” U.S. Army Vietnam War Veteran
During the month of June, the 81st Lights for Peace flag to fly at the Fort Taber – Fort Rodman Military Museum honors the memory of John W. Remedis, Jr., otherwise known as “Johnny Angel,” a former U.S. Army Vietnam War Veteran, beloved DJ, Downshifter’s Car Club founder and dedicated community servant from Freetown, MA.…
May 2026 Lights of Peace Flag to Honor The Memory of Chief Petty Officer, Leonard DeMedeiros WWII Navy Veteran
During the month of May, the 80th Lights for Peace flag to fly at the Fort Taber – Fort Rodman Military Museum honors the memory of United States Navy Chief Petty Officer, Leonard DeMedeiros, of Fairhaven, who was one of 33 survivors aboard the USS Squalus that sank off the coast of Portsmouth, NH on…
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