Waterfront Park
New Bedford, MA
Waterfront Visitor Center
800-508-5353, 508-991-6200
Col. George Claghorn was a Revolutionary war patriot, Naval Constructor, and master shipwright. He was a New Bedford resident and had a shipbuilding operation on the New Bedford waterfront in the 1790's and early 1800's.
Col. Claghorn's most notable accomplishment came between 1794 and 1797, during which time he moved his family to Boston to build the U.S.S. Constitution. The U.S.S Constitution is the the US Navy's oldest commisioned warship and celebrated its 200th anniversary in 1997.
Among other vessels, Col. Claghorn's shipyard also built the whaleship Rebecca, the first whaler to double Cape Horn.
The Claghorn memorial was first dedicated in 1936 by the Daughters of the American Revolution, New Bedford chapter. The plaque was taken down in the late 1960's during New Bedford's urban renewal period and placed in storage. It was rediscovered in 1997, and on July 6th, 1997 the memorial was rededicated with proper ceremony. In addition to the Daughters of the American Revolution and local dignitaries, several of Col. Claghorn's own decendants were on hand for the rededication.
