Annual Moby-Dick Marathon Draws Thousands to New Bedford Whaling Museum for 25-Hour Reading
The New Bedford Whaling Museum in Massachusetts hosted its 30th annual Moby-Dick Marathon, a 25-hour continuous reading of Herman Melville's novel. Over 3,100 attendees gathered starting January 3, with nearly 250 staying overnight. Massachusetts Poet Laureate Regie Gibson initiated the event, which featured more than 300 readers. The marathon celebrates Melville's connection to New Bedford, where he departed on a whaling voyage in 1841. The museum, founded in 1903, houses extensive whaling artifacts and serves as a cultural hub for this literary tradition.
Key facts
- The Moby-Dick Marathon has been held annually for 30 years at the New Bedford Whaling Museum
- Over 3,100 people attended the 2025 event, with nearly 250 remaining through the night
- More than 300 participants read during the 25-hour continuous reading
- The event began on January 3, marking the 185th anniversary of Melville's whaling departure
- New Bedford was historically the world's whaling capital and Melville's departure point in 1841
Entities
Artists
- Herman Melville
- Regie Gibson
Institutions
- New Bedford Whaling Museum
- Smithsonian magazine
Locations
- New Bedford, Massachusetts
- Massachusetts