High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! 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.