New Bedford Whaling Museum to host Lecture Series

NEW BEDFORD – In advance of the New Bedford Whaling Museum’s December premiere of “In the Heart of the Sea,” a Ron Howard movie depicting the sinking of the whaleship Essex, a three-part lecture series will be held.

The lectures will be held on Tuesdays November 3, 10 and 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the museum’s Cook Memorial Theater.

Attendees will learn about the culture and challenges experienced during the age of commercial whaling in New England and explore the connections between the past and modern-day understanding of whales and conservation efforts.

The first lecture “Whales: An economic, Cultural and Environmental Icon,” will feature a panel discussion about why whales were hunted and how our attitudes towards them have changed.

The second lecture “The Culture of Whales” will feature Dr. Hal Whitehead, the author of “Sperm Whales: Social Evolution of the Ocean,” and the last event will focus on the survivors of the Essex presented by Chief Curator of the Nantucket Historical Association Michael Harrison.

One copy of Nat Philbrick’s “In the Heart of the Sea” will be raffled off at each event and a welcome reception will be held at 6 p.m. before all three lectures.

The Ron Howard film is set for a December 11 release.