Fort Taber~Fort Rodman Historical Association

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

Parking

Fort Taber Park will begin on May 15th, 2024. Please come in and pick up a parking pass at the desk to park in the Museum Parking spots while visiting the Museum. When you arrive, get a parking pass from the Museum Front desk for your car.

Announcements

Please check our News/Blog section and our Events section for all announcements, news, and event programming. Stay updated with the latest happenings, exciting events, and important updates from the Fort Taber Military Museum.

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.

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 as of March 22, 2025

CUMULATIVE NO. OF VISITORS as of Feb 25, 2025

NUMBER OF MUSEUM DONORS (ARTIFACTS) (As of March 22,2025)

VOLUNTEER HOURS TO DATE (YTD 2025)

LATEST NEWS & EVENTS

SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AT FORT RODMAN

The New Bedford Half Marathon is March 16, 2025, at 11:00 AM. This will affect Rodney French Blvd as the route runs along it and right in front of Fort Taber Park. That being said The Fort Taber~Fort Rodman Military Museum and Veterans Memorial will still be “OPEN”. I am planning on being at the…

Chuck Kenneally, U.S. Army Tanker, retired with 43 years of military service. Member of Abrams Company Fourth Battalion “Burt’s Knights” Unit ed States Army brotherhood of Tankers. In the past 10 years Abrams Company has refurbished 19 public monument tanks in five of the new England states, including three public monument tanks displayed in the…

Lights of Peace Flag for March 2025 Honors 1LT Charles W Morse WWII Army & Air Force Pilot

During the month of March, the 66th Lights for Peace flag to fly at the Fort Taber – Fort Rodman Military Museum honors the memory of 1LT Charles W. Morse, an Army Air Force pilot who flew a total of 32 mis sions during WWII while serving in the European Theatre. Morse, who was born…

New Speaker February 16th 2025

Here is this month’s speaker If you could get this out it would be great WHEN: TIME: SUNDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2025 2:00 P.M. WHERE: Fort Taber~Fort Rodman Military Museum & Veterans Memorial 1000C s. Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford Who is speaking? Don Le Blanc No charge, no fee, open to the public, ample…

Lights of Peace Flag to Honor PFC Peter W. Roy KIA in Vietnam at age 18

During the month of February, the 65th Lights for Peace flag to fly at the Fort Taber – Fort Rodman Military Museum honors the memory of U.S. Marine PFC Peter W. Roy, who was KIA on Dec. 5, 1967, by friendly fire, one month after arriving in Vietnam. Peter Roy was born in New…

Speaker Joe Yukna & Sgt Stubby to appear January 12, 2025

JANUARY 12, 2025 2:00 P.M. WHERE: Fort Taber~Fort Rodman Military Museum & Veterans Memorial 1000C s. Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford Who is speaking? Joe Yukna President, Cape Cod Military Museum We begin the 2025 Winter History Lecture Series with Joe Yukna, President of the Cape Cod Military Museum Joe has lectured several times at…

Our January 2025 “Lights of Peace” Honoree is Felix S. Witkowicz

During the month of January, the 64th Lights for Peace flag to fly at the Fort Taber – Fort Rodman Military Museum honors the memory of Technician 5 Felix S. Witkowicz, who served in the United States Army, participating in both D-Day and the Battle of the…

Holiday and Storm Hours for 2024/2025 Winter Season

Holiday Closings for the Fort Taber Fort Rodman Military Museum and Veterans Memorial. Thanksgiving Day November 28, 2024 Closed Christmas Day December 25, 2024 Closed New Years Day January 1, 2025 Closed Also, during this Winter Season if the New Bedford Schools are Closed due to Bad Weather conditions the Museum will also be closed.

November 2024 “Lights of Peace” Flag to honor – Corporal Stephen J. Rogers

During the month of November, the 62nd Lights for Peace flag to fly at the Fort Taber – Fort Rodman Military Museum honors the memory of United States Army veteran Stephen Joseph Rogers from New Bedford, MA. Steve was born on July 16, 1932, in New Bedford, to Joseph Rogers and Mary (Oliveira)…

KIDS!!! Come to the Museum for some Painting Fun.

Coming to The Museum “Paint a Tank” Yes kids you can have your very own M1 Abrams Tank “Miniature ” You can Paint it as you like and then take it home to display. The Museum will supply Water Based washable Non-Toxic paint, brushes, aprons and the M1 Abrams Miniature Tank. Also, we will supply…

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