Fort Taber Park

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A black, white, and dark blue striped header image with the text Fort Taber Park

Last Saturday — June 15, 2024 — I had an adventure in New Bedford, MA. My third major stop was Fort Taber Park, which included the remains of a historic fort, a paved walking trail, and Fort Taber - Fort Rodman Historical Association Military Museum. This museum was my second stop in the Passport to History developed by Old Colony History Museum, my first stop being Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA on June 2, 2024.

Fort Rodman in the Sun; a two-story, early 19th century stone fort Fort Rodman in the clouds More of Fort Rodman in the clouds

The first idea for a European-style fort on this site, known as Clark’s Point, came around 1797, while a decent sized lighthouse was added in 1804. This being America, folks wanted something bigger and better, so in the 1840s, the federal and local government collaborated to build a fort out of local granite. Government being what it is, the project stalled. When the Civil War began in 1860, New Bedford was still without a proper fort to protect its lucrative whaling vessels. The city put up an earthenworks fort and named it after then-mayor of New Bedford, Isaac C. Taber, who was in office from 1860 to 1862.

Side view of Fort Rodman in the clouds Model of Saturn; a spherical planet above a sign directing walks to Uranus towards the left and the Sun towards the right Spreading the Light Informational Sign; the history of the lighthouse embedded into the fort, including pictures

Suddenly, the federal government got involved, building the granite fort that was promised. Two tiers were built, but the project petered out by 1871. No battles were ever fought there, although the project supervisor was an interesting man. Captain Henry Martyn Robert is better known for Robert’s Rules of Parliamentary Procedure, first published in 1876, and perhaps written in part during his time working on the fort. By 1898, the area had a new name: Fort Rodman, named for Lt. Col. William Logan Rodman of New Bedford who died during the Civil War.

Battery at Fort Rodman; a concrete building with no windows Grassy Side of a Battery at Fort Rodman Defending a Rich Target Informational Sign
Entrance to the fort; a two-story stone structure with a large wooden door underneath a neoclassical style pediment Peek at the Inside of Fort Rodman through the Keyhole of the Front Door The East Batteries Informational Sign

The government continued to expand the fort, place a small number of soldiers there during World War I, and house soldiers in nearby tents during World War II, as the barracks were never completed. After the world wars, the government removed salvageable weapons from the fort but kept it as a training ground until the 1970s. A friends society, museum, and walking path for the general public have since been built, turning the area into a place of recreation.

Vietnam War Memorial; a flagpole at the center of a stone paved pavilion Details of the Vietnam War Memorial; cement representations of three service ribbons, two miniature gardens, and a granite plaque Informational Sign Describing Vietnam War Memorial Granite Plaque of Vietnam War Memorial; outline of the country and illustration of a rifle propped up by combat boots
New Bedford Merchant Mariners Memorial; flag pole with American flag and POW flag opposite a small pavilion Close-Up of New Bedford Merchant Mariners Memorial Pavilion; embedded stone creates a compass with the four cardinal directions Metal Plaque at the New Bedford Merchant Mariners Memorial

As an added bonus, the city of New Bedford boasts a to-scale model of the solar system featuring eight planets and the Sun. Saturn is on the walking path near the fort. This project was a 2018 collaboration between Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU), the Astronomical Society of Southern New England, and the Westport Council on Aging, allowing astronomers of all ages to take part in creating the fun model. Unfortunately, information about this project is somewhat scarce, so I only saw one other planet on my trip.

Merchant Mariner Memorial Walkway Sign; a wooden sign with the words plus two carved anchors A Tern Poses for a Picture on the Railing of the Merchant Mariner Memorial Walkway Exercise Tiger Tank; an army green, World War II era tank Writing on the Side of Exercise Tiger; additional text reads Slapton Sands, April 28, 1944, 749 lives lost
Informational Sign for Honoring Forgotten Heroes First Granite Informational Sign for Exercise Tiger Second Granite Informational Sign for Exercise Tiger

Several other points of interest stand around the fort. The Vietnam War Memorial includes a sign providing thorough explanation on what each aspect of the installation represents. Another memorial, this one with a walkway jutting into the water, is dedicated to the New Bedford Merchant Mariners of World War II. Finally, a tank across the street from the museum commemorates American soldiers who died during a training exercise preparing for D-Day during World War II when German submarines attacked them.

Entrance to Fort Taber - Fort Rodman Historical Association Military Museum; an army green building with bright red double doors and a ramp leading to the entrance Civil War Military Cap and Daguerreotype Political Cartoon in Memory of Frank Buckles, last Doughboy of World War I, 1901-2011
Cannon and Flags from the Revolutionary War Collection of WWI Memorabilia, including doughboy statues, and lamp, and empty shells DuPont Gunpowder Holder and Guns Assortment of Military Uniforms; one is orange. One is brown. Sorry I can't be of more help...
View of the Left Gallery; the space is crammed with cabinets, and model aircraft hang from the ceiling WWII Era Women's Military Dress Uniform; navy blue Another view of the Left Gallery; wall of WWII era portraits on left, more cabinets, many flags

The museum is filled with an astonishing array of carefully labeled weapons, uniforms, photographs, flags, models, newspaper clippings, and other war-related memorabilia. Nearly every surface is covered with something of historical significance. The beginning of the self-guided tour includes a brief talk from a highly knowledgeable and enthusiast staff member describing the military heroes of New Bedford showcased on the museum’s Wall of Honor. A military history enthusiast could spend hours pouring over the collection. Some of my favorite items included models of the fort and nearby lighthouse, military dress uniforms, and a World War II torpedo.

Model of Fort Rodman; on a riser behind plexiglass Another view of the Model of Fort Rodman Smaller Model of Fort Rodman
Gun Room; Assortment of machine guns and rifles from American wars Machine Gun in the Middle of the Left Gallery Snazzy Military Cloak
Giant Torpedo from WWII Newspaper Clipping About Man who had Giant Torpedo from WWII Model of Little Lighthouse Located Nearby Table for the Soldiers Who Never Came Home

The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Parking is available in the substantial next to the museum. The museum is free, with donations accepted. Be sure to get your free parking pass as soon as you enter the museum; the meter man is quick in his attempts to write tickets. The museum is on a single level with a ramp to the entrance, making it accessible to those with limited mobility or using a wheelchair. Parts of the museum have narrow passageways and have low lighting on a cloudy day. This is a must-seen for military enthusiasts, and a good stop for anyone in the area looking for an educational way to spend an hour.


Abby Epplett’s Rating System

Experience: 8/10

Accessibility: 8/10



Location: Fort Taber Park, 1000C S Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford, MA 02744, USA