50 N. Second St.
New Bedford, MA 02740
800-508-5353, 508-991-6200
This Federal style mansion was built between 1820 and 1821 by Benjamin Rodman. Rodman was a founder of the New Bedford Institution for Savings (NBIS), a prominent businessman, and an influential member of the community.
The mansion is an example of the simplicity of Quaker style. The mansion is constructed of granite block with quoined corners and was the home of the Rodman family until 1872. The mansion is in its original location and the surrounding area was part of the estate, which originally included gracious landscaping.
By 1890, the mansion had been completely surrounded by storefronts and for a period of time it was used as a warehouse. The operators of the warehouse demolished the interior walls and opened a large hole in the granite front wall of the building. The building eventually became owned by overseas interests.
The mansion was reacquired by local ownership in 1965 and the exterior granite walls and windows were restored. Plans to restore the interior, with the intention of housing whaling artifacts and genealogy materials, fell through at the time and the mansion remained empty until 1976.
The New Bedford Glass Society, with the assistance of the Waterfront Historic Area LeagueE (WHALE) and other funding, purchased the mansion in 1976. After extensive renovations to accurately reproduce interior walls and woodwork, the Society opened the New Bedford Glass Museum in the mansion in 1978. The Society operated the Glass Museum in the mansion until 1990 when economic conditions forced its closure. Much of the Glass Museum's collection is now at the New Bedford Whaling Museum.
It now houses the private offices.
The Benjamin Rodman Mansion is located within The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, just behind the Downtown Visitor Center/National Park Visitor Center.
