15 Best Things to Do in Fairhaven (MA)
Across the harbor from the old whaling port of New Bedford is Fairhaven, a port city lined with grand turn-of-the-century public buildings.
These landmarks, including the school, city hall, and Millicent Library, were generously donated by industrialist Henry H. Rogers.
He was an executive at Standard Oil Company, which was then the largest oil company in the world.
Creating one of the finest landscapes in New England, many of these buildings still serve their original purpose, and you can see them on a guided or self-guided walking tour.
Your visit to Fairhaven doesn't have to end in the city center, as there is plenty to explore on the beaches, salt marshes and coastal forests along the shores of Buzzards Bay, which are protected as conservation lands or state preserves.
1. Henry H. Rogers Tour
The greatest contribution to Fairhaven's cityscape came from local industrialist Henry H. Rogers (1840-1909), who built a series of palatial projects in his hometown at the turn of the 20th century.
Beginning with the grammar school in 1885, Rogers endowed Fairhaven with a collection of landmarks of rare beauty, all built in the Renaissance style.
Highlights include City Hall (1892), Millicent Library (1893), Unified Memorial Church (1901), and stately Fairhaven High School (1905).
They were all designed by Boston architect Charles Brigham (1841-1925). You can download a self-guided tour, which takes you to these and other Rogers-related sites, and provides some additional background information.
On Thursday mornings, from June to September, there is a guided walking tour that departs from City Hall at 10am.
2. Fort Phoenix State Reservation
Built in 1775, Fort Phoenix guarded the rocky entrance to New Bedford Harbor on the east side, and participated in the first naval engagement of the American Revolutionary War.
The British then destroyed the facility in 1778, and in 1784 it received the name Fort Phoenix after one of several rebuildings.
The five cannons on the parapet are Model 1819 24-pounders, dating from before the Civil War. The nearby preserve has attracted visitors since the 1880s when wagons brought day hikers from New Bedford.
Half a mile of accessible sandy beach, plenty of grassy park space, and a variety of amenities including tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, and a children's playground.
3. Visitors Center & Historical Society Museum
The impressive Fairhaven High School contains a preserved old school building dating back to 1798. Built in the Federal style, the building became Fairhaven Academy after the city incorporated in 1812.
For most of the 19th century, the building had multiple purposes, as a place of education, but also to host religious services on the upper floor as well as town meetings and other civic events.
The Visitor Center is open from June to September (except Wednesdays and Sundays) and is a helpful first port of call in Fairhaven, with maps and brochures about the town's attractions and events.
The local historical society has a comprehensive and regularly updated display of local artifacts, covering topics such as Fort Phoenix, the whaling trade, and Henry H. Rogers.
4. Phoenix Bike Trail
You can see much of Fairhaven, from its leafy downtown to its forests, agriculture and salt marshes, without using a car.
The Phoenix Bike Trail passes through the city, east to west, for 4.5 miles, including a 1.7-mile stretch that heads south along the Sconticut Neck Peninsula.
This is the old track of the long-abandoned railway line, which runs parallel to Route 6. The wide, paved path is ideal for cyclists, walkers and runners and showcases the full diversity of accommodation in the city.
At the east end, after passing through Nasketucket Bay State Reserve, the trail merges with the Mattapoisett Railroad Trail on the city line.
5. Riverside Cemetery
In the mid-19th century, when the former Fairhaven Cemetery became too small for the city's growing population, a new cemetery was built along the Acushnet River.
The founder was Warren Delano, Jr. (1809-1898), Roosevelt's grandfather, who purchased and gifted 14 acres to the city. You can visit the Delano Mausoleum, where 20 family members are buried, including William Jr.
Completed in 1859, this imposing monument was designed by Richard Morris Hunt (1827-1895), a prominent architect of the time.
The Henry H. Rogers Mausoleum is slightly larger, while the George F. Meacham (1831-1917), erected in 1868, commemorates the fallen soldiers and sailors at Fairhaven.
6. Unitarian Memorial Church
One of the finest churches in the area, the Unitarian Monument dates from 1901 and has a Gothic design inspired by the English Perpendicular Gothic style of the 15th and 16th centuries.
The exterior is composed of local granite and decoratively carved Indiana limestone, with extensive marble and limestone carvings inside.
Rogers hired dozens of Italian craftsmen for this work, as well as 45 other Bavarian woodcarvers for the magnificent pews, choir screen, organ cases, and pulpit.
Other fine details include the organ itself, stained glass windows, bronze doors to the sanctuary, a covered baptismal font, and a tower that stands 165 feet tall and can be seen for miles. Visit the church website for a tour.
7. Millennium Library
Among these projects that Rogers has funded since the turn of the 20th century is the magnificent Library Building, which was dedicated in 1893. The building was named after Henry's daughter Millicent, who died of heart failure in 1890 at just 17 years old.
Combining Italian Renaissance and Romanesque Revival architecture, Millicent's Library is noted for its red roof, theatrical terra cotta moldings, and a large stained glass window depicting Millicent as a muse. It was presented and produced by Clayton and Bell in London.
When Twain visited the library after the dedication of Fairhaven City Hall in 1894, he was full of praise. Among the rich collections are artifacts related to Nakahama Manjiro (1827-1898), one of the first Japanese people to live in America.
He chose to come to Fairhaven in 1841, after being rescued from a shipwreck off the uninhabited island of Torishima by whaler William H. Whitfield.
8. Fairhaven Town Hall
Across Center Street from Millicent Library is another landmark, given to the city by Rogers and designed by Brigham.
Like the United Memorial Church, Fairhaven Town Hall (1892) features a Revival design combining Romanesque and Gothic elements.
The Town Hall still houses a number of municipal offices, and was initially home to a post office, a police station and three prison cells. Outside, the eye-catching feature is the clock tower, topped with a croquet roof.
The interior is filled with stained glass, oak paneling and solid brass fittings, and there is a magnificent hall on the second floor.
It continues to host events, welcoming Rogers' friend Mark Twain, who took the stage at the dedication in 1894.
9. West Island State Reservation
Fairhaven's windswept West Island, secluded in Buzzards Bay, seems remote, but it's only 15 minutes from downtown.
The eastern half of the island is protected by a state reserve, consisting of rocky beaches, secluded coves, forests and wild salt marshes, criss-crossed by nearly two miles of hiking trails through the rugged landscape.
On the island's less exposed south coast is Fairhaven City Beach, which is staffed by lifeguards from late June through Labor Day.
In the past it was possible for residents and non-residents to purchase a day ticket at the gate here.
But the year we wrote this article, you had to go to the Board of Public Works downtown and get a permit for the entire season. This situation may change by the time of your visit.
10. Nasketucket Bay State Reservation
The recommended route for anyone making their way along the Phoenix Bike Trail is the more than 200 acres of coastal pine forests, rocky beaches, grasslands, and salt marshes lining Naskatuck Bay.
The land was set aside for development before the reserve was established, and the trails follow paved paths and house passes.
The preserve is also surrounded by conservation lands such as Shaw Farm and Carvalho Farm, adding hundreds of acres of protected nature for you to explore.
On the water, you can scan the rocky coastline and look out over Naskatuck Bay with its many small islands, and beyond to West Island and Buzzards Bay.
11. Fairhaven Hurricane Barrier
The densely populated beaches of Fairhaven and New Bedford are protected by a barrier built in the 1960s at the mouth of the Actonite River.
The structure, which includes thousands of feet of earth-filled embankment stretching across the harbor and along the shoreline, cost $18.6 million. Hurricanes in 1938 and 1954 caused catastrophic flooding.
The bulkhead has a maximum height of 20 feet, and has a 150-foot opening for marine traffic. For the public, the paved path above the barrier is a favorite fishing spot. There is also a dramatic view of New Bedford Harbor, made even more beautiful if you visit at sunset.
12. Little Bay Conservation Area
One way to see Fairhaven's coast and picturesque interior is to visit one of the many estates owned by gated communities here and there.
A stunning location that is also very accessible is this stretch of marshy land at the mouth of the Neskitik River. Here Little Bay feeds into Nascatuck Bay, a rich shellfish habitat that supports birds such as egrets and herons.
The 1.7-mile extension of the Phoenix Bike Trail straddles the western border of the 70-acre conservation area, for great views of both bays. The view is even better if you go to the end of the pier that runs over Little Bay.
13. Shipyard Farm Trails
Head to Sconticut Neck to spend some time in this patch of protected coastal land at the transition between farmland and salt marsh.
The best time to visit the shipyard is early in the day, when you can watch the sunrise over Nasketak Bay and West Island.
Covering just 50 acres, the reserve includes rustic hayfield, woodland and salt marshes, with interesting traces of settlement such as cellar holes and centuries-old stone walls.
You can see deer and rabbits on the dry land, while osprey, gulls and crabs are often seen on the beach.
14. Huttleston Marketplace
This large seasonal market is located in the Visitor Center and Museum grounds next to Fairhaven High School.
From late May to September, Huttleston Marketplace is a fantastic weekly event with local produce, prepared foods and arts and crafts.
On a weekday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be 80 vendors selling locally grown produce, honey, eggs, pastries, antiques, home decor, used books, pottery, jewelry, wood, and will sell crafts, candles, clothing, artisan soaps and more. . Tons more.
As a rule, all crafts must be handmade, and the market is held every week, rain or shine.
15. Fairhaven Farmers Market
If you're in town on a Sunday during the summer, there's another farmers market at a farm located at 151 Alden Road.
This company focuses on groceries rather than crafts, and is a private operation that includes a group of farms and businesses located in or near the city.
You can usually expect fresh seasonal produce, grass-fed meat, fresh scallops straight off the boat, raw honey, eggs, breads, muffins, scones, homemade lemonade, and more. There is parking on the premises, and the market provides free space for non-profit groups.