| Waterfront Historic Area LeaguE | |
| Formation: | 1962 |
| Abbreviation: | WHALE |
| Founder: | George Perkins, Stephen Delano, and Peter Grinnell |
| Status: | 501(c)(3) organization |
| Purpose: | Historic Preservation |
| Headquarters: | 15 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates: | 41.6353°N -70.9237°W |
| Membership: | ≈872 |
| Leader Title: | Executive Director |
| Leader Name: | Erin D. A. Miranda |
| Leader Title2: | President |
| Leader Name2: | Diana Henry |
| Website: | https://waterfrontleague.org/ |
The Waterfront Historic Area LeaguE, also known as WHALE, is a non-profit historic preservation organization located in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Its mission is: "to promote the value and reuse of greater New Bedford's historic structures through preservation, education and advocacy".[1] The organization often promotes its cause with the words of Sarah Delano (President of WHALE, 1966-1982). Delano said, "If you bulldoze your heritage, you become just anywhere".[2]
The organization was founded by a group of concerned citizens in 1962, at a time when urban renewal threatened much of the city's history and architectural heritage. The original focus was on the city's waterfront district, a dense area of whaling era buildings suffering from severe neglect and disrepair.[3] WHALE took on the preservation/restoration of as many as 20 buildings within the district's boundaries over the years. This became the organization's first neighborhood revitalization project and lead to the establishment of Bedford Landing Waterfront National Register Historic District. With WHALE's leadership, the district would later be designated, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. Over time, WHALE expanded to properties beyond this district, taking on preservation projects throughout the city. Since their founding in 1962, WHALE has facilitated the completion of more than 72 restoration and preservation projects in the New Bedford area.
In November 2023, WHALE received the Trustees’ Award for Organizational Excellence from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, who commended WHALE for its "tireless commitment to preservation".[4]
Since the 1960s, WHALE has completed the following projects:[1]
Today, WHALE is run by an elected board of directors and hired staff. WHALE staff positions consist of an Executive Director and an Office and Events Manager along with volunteers and occasional consultants.[1] WHALE works closely with other organizations in the area, including the City of New Bedford, New Bedford Historical Commission, the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC), the National Park Service and more.