The Azorean Whalers Heritage

The last time a spermwhale was killed in the Azores was in 1987. That year the whale hunters put away their arpoons for good. The boats went ashore and all activity was terminated.

At that time someone had the fortunate idea of immediately making a museum: Museu dos Baleeiros (the Whalers´ Museum). The so-called boathouses, where the material was stocked, were used to keep the remains of the activity.

The patrimony gathered there is something that makes all azoreans proud. It s not that the azorean people connect to the time when whales were killed, but the truth is that for the past two centuries, many families were related to the whaling activity and it was their main source of income. As for the former whalers, they feel that the museum keeps a part of themselves, perpetuating it as a witness of all the long hours they spent fighting the “monster of the seas” in archaic canoes. All for a few coins to feed their children. Back in those days life imposed such sacrifices.

No one was aware of the fact that whale hunting was drastically reducing the number of these mammals.

Nowadays, visiting the Whalers Museum located in Lajes do Pico, makes us value and appreciate the activity of FUTURISMO AZORES WHALE WATCHING. After all, we also think of ourselves as whalers - the new whalers - the perpetuators of our inheritance, respectful of the past but dealing with the whales with their preservation in mind. Our present can only make sense if we acknowledge our past.

Visiting the Whalers Museum in Lajes do Pico is something you just cannot miss!