New Bedford Historic District

New Bedford Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark District
View along North Water Street, 2008
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Location	New Bedford, Massachusetts
Coordinates	41°38′7″N 70°55′27″W / 41.63528°N 70.92417°W / 41.63528; -70.92417
Area	19.6 acres (7.9 ha)[1]
Built	1790
Architect	Russell Warren, Robert Mills, others
Architectural style	Greek Revival, Federal
NRHP reference No.	66000773
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	November 13, 1966[2]
Designated NHLD	November 13, 1966[3]

The New Bedford Historic District is a National Historic Landmark District in New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States, west of the community's waterfront. During the 19th century, when the city was the center of the American whaling industry, this was its downtown. After its decline in the early and mid-20th century, through the efforts of local activist groups the district has since been preserved and restored to appear much as it was during that period.

Most of its buildings were erected between 1790 and 1855 by Russell Warren and other builders working in the Federal and Greek Revival architectural styles. Many of them reflect the legacy of whaling in the city's development. The district was designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL) and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.^[1][3][2] Later it was recognized as a local historic district and protected by local zoning. One building within it, the U.S. Customhouse, is the oldest such facility currently in use and has been independently recognized as an NHL. Since 1996 the district has also been a part of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.