Whaling Disasters

Whaling Disasters

Offshore whaling was a risky business, combining the hazards of deep-water sailing with those of the big-game hunt and the factory floor. Individual whalers could die of disease, falls, drowning, and injuries worse than what shipboard medical care could heal, but the greatest threat was disasters that put the entire ship at risk: storms, Arctic ice, wartime raiders, and whale attacks like the one that inspired Moby Dick. On Tuesday, September 30th, join MVM Research Librarian Bow Van Riper for a look at just how nightmarish a “bad day at work” can get.

MVM Member: $15; Non-Member: $25

DETAILS


Date September 30, 2025
From 5:00 pm
To 6:00 pm
Type Talk
Venue Martha’s Vineyard Museum
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email collections@mvmuseum.org. Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.