New Bedford in Bristol County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Cape Verde to New Bedford
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 30, 2015
1. Cape Verde to New Bedford Marker
After World War II, as air travel increased, Ernestina became one of only two vessels making the regular trip to Cape Verde. The schooner continued to do so - often without engine or radio - until 1965. She was the last sailing ship to bring immigrants across the Atlantic to the United States. Many of those Cape Verdeans - people of Portuguese and African descent - still live in the New Bedford area."
Because the Cape Verde Islands were on the trade winds route to Brazil, New Bedford whaling vessels often stopped there to pick up provisions and, sometimes, crew. Perhaps 500 to 1,000 Cape Verdeans reached southern New England on whale ships between 1820 and 1860.
Upon climbing aboard the Ernestina... we found ourselves surrounded by beds, bureaus, boxes, mattresses, dressers, chairs, tables, chickens, and barking dogs, with people milling about.... No one could actually believe that dozens of people had embarked on this voyage, with all their worldly possession, in a ship past her prime having no radio, setting out to cross the Atlantic Ocean!
Frank Way Jr., of USS Arcadia, in Narragansett Bay, 1954
Erected by National
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.
Location. 41° 38.035′ N, 70° 55.26′ W. Marker is in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in Bristol County. It is on MacArthur Drive south of Elm Street (Route 104), on the left when traveling south. This marker is located in the downtown area, along the waterfront, in the vicinity of the New Bedford Harbor, Ferry Terminal. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 66 MacArthur Drive, New Bedford MA 02740, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the South Coast. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lost Lightship Sailors Memorial (a few
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 30, 2015
2. Cape Verde to New Bedford Marker
Close-up view, that is displayed on the marker, of a photograph (used as the background picture for the marker), showing the Ernestina in the packet trade, 1953.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 30, 2015
3. Cape Verde to New Bedford Marker
Close-up view, that is displayed on the marker, of an illustration, showing the global positions and distance between New Bedford and Cape Verde.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 30, 2015
4. Cape Verde to New Bedford Marker
View of the marker looking east.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 30, 2015
5. Cape Verde to New Bedford Marker
View of the marker looking south along the waterfront walkway.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 30, 2015
6. Cape Verde to New Bedford Marker
View of the marker looking north along the waterfront walkway (and north along MacArthur Drive).
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 30, 2015
7. Cape Verde to New Bedford Marker
View of the marker looking northeast, towards the docking site of the Schooner Ernestina.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 30, 2015
8. Docking Site of the Schooner Ernestina
Wherever the Schooner Ernestina is docked in the port city of New Bedford, this is a view of where it would be docked.
Photographed by Adam Margolis, September 15, 2025
9. Cape Verde to New Bedford Marker
Photographed by Adam Margolis, September 15, 2025
10. Cape Verde to New Bedford Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2015, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,627 times since then and 165 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on August 6, 2015, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 9, 10. submitted on November 21, 2025, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California.
