On Thursday morning at 10:30, on a grassy knoll along the Hurricane Barrier access road at the base of Gifford Street in New Bedford.

Mayor John Mitchell will join reps from the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers and other local officials to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking of the New Bedford Hurricane Barrier.

This engineering marvel has made New Bedford a "safe harbor".  This stone and steel wall is 9100 feet long, and is 20 feet high.  The top of the barrier provides a walkway for recreational activities.  It's a great place to watch boats going in and out of the harbor, as well as view the city and Buzzard's Bay.

The barrier is the largest stone structure on the east coast of the U.S.   The harbor section has two 440 ton gates that can be closed during storms.   After devastating Hurricanes in 1938, 1944 and 1954, the wall to protect the city was built by the Army Corps Of Engineers in the early 1960's.

Most sections of our city will probably never see the kind of devastation caused in the New York/New Jersey area by Hurricane Sandy.   This great wall is truly something to marvel.

More From WFHN-FM/FUN 107