Long before the invention of electricity or the discovery of underground reservoirs of fossil fuels, people depended on whale oil to keep their lamps lit. A few brave Colonial farmers left their fields and headed out to sea to chase whales and profits farther and farther off shore. When they did, towns sprung up around their harbors as demand grew for sailors, blacksmiths, ropewalkers, and the many other craftsmen needed to support the growing whaling industry. Through the fictional village of Tuckanucket, Whale Port explores the history of these towns. Detailed illustrations and an informative narrative reveal the way Tuckanucket’s citizens lived and worked by sharing the personal stories of people like Zachariah Taber, his family and neighbors, and the place they called home. Whale Port is also the story of America, and the important role whales played in its history and development as people worked together to build communities that not only survived, but prospered and grew into the flourishing cities of a new nation.

How did a coastal town built on whale oil help shape a new nation?

American History for Kids: Follow the Taber family through generations as their small farming settlement transforms into the bustling whaling port of Tuckanucket.
The Whaling Industry: From harpoons to tryworks, discover the dangerous work, specialized tools, and immense ships required to hunt the giants of the sea.
Colonial American Life: Meet the coopers, blacksmiths, and ropewalkers who were the backbone of the port, and see how an entire community worked together to prosper.
Illustrated History Book: Pore over detailed, full-color illustrations that reveal the inner workings of a colonial home, a bustling wharf, and a whaleship at sea.