The Herreshoff Manufacturing Company was started here in 1863 by John B. Herreshoff, with his brother Nathanael G. Herreshoff as designer. The company designed and built many famous vessels, including Seagoing Torpedo Boat No. 1 U.S.S. Cushing in 1890 and the America's Cup defenders Vigilant in 1893, Defender in 1895, Columbia in 1899, Reliance in 1903, and Resolute in 1914, and built the defenders Enterprise in 1930 and Rainbow in 1934. Herreshoff inventive design of hulls, sails, engines, and designs was an enduring contribution to yachting.
