Wamsutta Mills
Wamsutta Mills is a district in New Bedford, Massachusetts, listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 19, 2008.
Plan your visit
- Access
- Access information not verified
Last checked October 31, 2026 - Location
- New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts
National Register listing does not mean a place is open to the public. Parking and accessibility are shown only when verified.
History
Wamsutta Mills is a former textile manufacturing company and current brand offering sheets, towels, bedding and other household products. Founded by Thomas Bennett, Jr. on the banks of the Acushnet River in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1846 and opened in 1848, Wamsutta Mills was named after Wamsutta, the son of a Native American chief who negotiated an early alliance with the English settlers of the Plymouth Colony. It was the first of many textile mills in New Bedford, and gradually led to cotton textile manufacturing overtaking whaling as the town's principal industry by the 1870s.
Wamsutta Mills became well known for producing fine quality shirtings, sheetings and other fine cotton products. The Wamsutta name continues to be used as a brand today, formerly marketed by American retailer Bed Bath & Beyond in North America and Brazilian textile conglomerate Springs Global in South America. Following Bed Bath & Beyond's bankruptcy in 2023, the brand assets were acquired by Indo Count Global, with plans to relaunch in 2025 selling direct to consumers online.
Excerpt from the Wikipedia article, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. The official nomination form is linked under Sources.
Other listings in New Bedford
- First Baptist Church Building · listed 1975
- Hazelwood Park Site · listed 2010
- Manomet Mills District · listed 2012
- New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Complex District · listed 2002
- New Bedford Historic District District · listed 1966
- Rotch, William J., Gothic Cottage Building · listed 2006
- Acushnet Heights Historic District District · listed 1989
- Butler Flats Light Station Structure · listed 1987
- Buttonwood Park Historic District District · listed 2000
- Carney, Sgt. William H., House Building · listed 1975
- Central New Bedford Historic District District · listed 1980
- County Street Historic District District · listed 1976
- Dawson Building Building · listed 1982
- Donaghy, Thomas, School Building · listed 1989
- ERNESTINA (schooner) Structure · listed 1985
Nearby historic places
- Unitarian Memorial Church Fairhaven, MA · about 2 mi
- Fort Phoenix Fairhaven, MA · about 2 mi
- Hixville Village Historic District Dartmouth, MA · about 6 mi
- Jesus Marie Convent Fall River, MA · about 11 mi
- St. Joseph's Orphanage Fall River, MA · about 11 mi
- Pocasset Firehouse No. 7 Fall River, MA · about 11 mi