Waterfront Historic Area League

Its mission is: "to promote the value and reuse of greater New Bedford's historic structures through preservation, education and advocacy".

[2] The organization was founded by a group of concerned citizens in 1962, at a time when urban renewal threatened much of the city's history and architectural heritage.

The original focus was on the city's waterfront district, a dense area of whaling era buildings suffering from severe neglect and disrepair.

This became the organization's first neighborhood revitalization project and lead to the establishment of Bedford Landing Waterfront National Register Historic District.

WHALE staff positions consist of an Executive Director and an Office and Events Manager along with volunteers and occasional consultants.