Birds of the First Light & Longhouses

The New Bedford community is fortunate to be one of the 107 public venues worldwide to have the full collection of 435 original hand-colored engravings. In 1866, whaling merchant James Arnold donated four volumes of John James Audubon’s first edition double-elephant folio of The Birds of America to the New Bedford Free Public Library.

Sixty of these engravings, many of which have not been seen in more than 30 years, will be on display. The curator of the exhibit is Louis Doherty, a founder of the New Bedford Art Museum, and acknowledged Audubon expert, with extensive experience in Audubon’s work.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.