LIGHTING THE WAY: THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF WILLIAM ROTCH, JR.

New Bedford, MA

Exhibit Design: Wondercabinet Interpretive Design, Inc.
Exhibit Graphics: Proun Design, LLC
Size: 240 sf
Project Budget: $50,000

For this historic house in New Bedford, Massachusetts, once the premiere whaling city
in New England, we designed an exhibit about William Rotch, Jr., the home’s first owner.
Rotch and his family amassed tremendous wealth and influence from their whaling
ventures and industries. The history of the city unfolds through stories of the Rotch family
over several generations.

The exhibit examines the Rotch’s innovative business strategies, the importance of their
Quaker faith, and their influence on the community. These stories are interpreted with graphic murals, designed to complement and respect the historic interior design. Evocative artwork, artifacts and first-person accounts enliven the story of this remarkable man and his family.