New Bedford Port Society
15 Johnny Cake Hill
New Bedford, MA 02740
For more than 140 years, the Mariner's Home has provided a clean, comfortable place to stay for transient seamen who need shelter in the port of New Bedford. The Mariner's Home is operated by the New Bedford Port Society, which charges only a nominal cost for a temporary stay. The Home is not open to the general public.
The Federal-style mansion was originally the home of William Rotch, Jr., the grandson of Joseph Rotch, an early leader of New Bedford's whaling industry. It was built circa 1787 on the corner of William and North Water Streets.
In 1850, Sarah Rotch Arnold, the daughter of William Rotch, Jr., donated the mansion to the New Bedford Port Society to be a home for transient seamen. Sarah's husband, James Arnold, paid to have the building moved to Johnny Cake Hill. The Home opened in 1857.
James and Sarah Arnold were both active in the Port Society. James was an early President and Sarah was the first President of the ladies branch.
The Mariner's Home is located next to the Seamen's Bethel within The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.
Directly across the street from the Mariner's Home is the New Bedford Whaling Museum, which is the largest museum in the country dedicated to the history of American whaling.
