New Bedford Whale Man Statue
The Whale Man statue has been a New Bedford icon since it was dedicated in 1913. Sculpted in bronze by Bela Lyon Pratt, it depicts a boat steerer in the prow of a whaleboat coursing through rough seas moments before he plunges his harpoon into a nearby whale. The statue located near New Bedford's city hall is a symbol of praise for the courageous whale men who brought untold prosperity to the "Whaling City" in the mid to late nineteenth century.