Millicent Library

Monday and Wednesday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
45 Center Street, Fairhaven
This lovely public library built opened 1893 in memory of Henry and Abby Rogers' daughter Millicent, displays art, the handwritten manuscript of Mark Twain's Town Hall dedication speech, Japanese artifacts including a samurai sword honoring the town's connection to Manjiro Nakahama and more. Handicap accessible. For more information, call 508-992-5342, or visit http://www.millicentlibrary.org/.

Fort Phoenix

PHOTO BY ERIC BIRKELAND

Daylight Hours

South end of Fort Street, Fairhaven

Fort Phoenix was built between 1775 and 1777 and was manned during the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Civil War. It was donated to the Town of Fairhaven through the generosity of  Cara Rogers Broughton, "Lady Fairhaven" of England, a daughter of Henry H. Rogers. Twice a year the Fairhaven Village Militia holds historical encampments at Fort Phoenix. On most Friday mornings in June, July, August & September the Fairhaven Office of Tourism puts on a free "Pirates and Privateers" program. You can learn more about the fort here: http://fairhaventours.com/fort-phoenix-fairhaven-ma/

Fairhaven Visitors Center and Museum of Fairhaven History

Fairhaven Academy Building
141 Main Street, near intersection of Route 6, Fairhaven
(West lawn of Fairhaven High School)

Housed in a Federal style schoolhouse built in 1798, the Fairhaven Office of Tourism & Visitors Center is open year round, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (In June, July and August, the Visitors Center  closes at noon on Saturday and opens the Old Stone Schoolhouse.)

A museum operated by the Fairhaven Historical Society, Inc., is in the same building. The museum is open year round the same hours as the Visitors Center, plus on Sundays 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. June through September. The museum includes an 1830s "Period Room," an original, early 19th Century school room and a collection of artifacts and art related to Fairhaven’s history.

Off-street parking is available in the Fairhaven High School lot next to the building.

For additional information, visit: http://fairhaventours.com/about-fairhaven-ma/fairhaven-visitors-center/

Joseph Bates Boyhood Home

Hours by Appointment
191 Main Street, Fairhaven

The front part of this house was built about 1742 by William Wood, who had purchased the entire Oxford area from Philip Taber a year or two earlier. The house was purchased in 1793 by Joseph Bates, Sr. a prominent businessman who helped found the New Bedford (later Fairhaven) Academy in 1798. 

Bates’ son, Joseph Jr., grew up here before going to sea at the age of fifteen. After retiring as a sea captain, Bates began the local temperance movement and was one of the builders of the Washington Street Meeting house. He became a follower of William Miller who was predicting the Second Advent of Christ. Following the “Great Disappointment” when the predicted event did not occur, Bates wrote a treatise proposing that in order for the Biblical prophecies to come to pass, the Sabbath should be celebrated on Saturdays, the seventh day of the week. Thus Bates founded of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which was established in 1863.

The house, visited by thousands of Seventh-day Adventists over the years, was purchased in 2006 by the Adventist Heritage Ministry, which is undertaking a restoration. It is open to the public by appointment during the spring, summer and early fall.

For more information, see: JOSEPH BATES JR.

Old Stone Schoolhouse

Saturdays in June, July and August
12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
No Regular Winter Hours 
40 North Street, Fairhaven, MA
Visit the town’s first one-room district schoolhouse, built in 1828. A guide in period costume is on hand in the restored classroom to talk about education in the 1800s. Children may try writing on slate boards, using a pen dipped in an inkwell, and old-time schoolyard games like hopscotch, marbles and jacks. Free. For more information, call 508-979-4085 or visit http://fairhaventours.com/old-stone-school-house/

Unitarian Memorial Church Tours

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
July and August
Winter Tours by appointment
102 Green Street, Fairhaven, MA
Dedicated in October 1904, this English Perpendicular Gothic style “cathedral” was designed by architect Charles Brigham and built by Henry H. Rogers in memory of his mother Mary E. Rogers. Guides are on hand to describe the architectural details. Handicap accessible. Donations requested. For more information, call 508-992-7081 or visit http://www.uufairhaven.org/.

Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship House

Saturdays and Sundays, Noon to 4:00 p.m.
June 1 to September 1

and by appointment

11 Cherry Street, Fairhaven, MA

Visit the home of whaling captain William H. Whitfield and learn the story of Manjiro Nakahama, the first Japanese person to live in American after he was rescued from a Pacific island by the captain in 1841. Admission during regular open hours: $8 adults, $7 seniors, $4 students, under 6 years free. To make an appointment to visit at times not scheduled, call 508-995-1219 or email Gerry@WMFriendshipHouse.org. For more information, visit http://www.whitfield-manjiro.org