Mayor Edward M. Lambert, Jr. of Fall River officially unveiled the Portas da Cidade or Gates of the City, Fall River's newest attraction on its waterfront along with Ponta Delgada Mayor Berta Cabral on July 22, 2006. Project Committee Chairman Francisco Cabral oversaw the fundraising for the monument as well as all phases of its development. The Orcestra Ligeira, a 21-member group from Ponta Delgada, the city that co-sponsored the construction of the Gates, was on hand to provide a musical accompaniment to the ceremony. The 30 by 60 foot monument is a replica of a structure in Ponta Delgada, San Miguel's capital city and has been under construction since the first stones arrived in March, 2004. Many of Fall River's citizens immigrated from San Miguel and the other six islands in the Azores. A sister-city pact between Fall River and Ponta Delgada was signed in 1978 and the relationship between the two cities has grown under the leadership of Mayor Lambert and Mayor Berta Maria Correia de Almeida de Melo Cabral of Ponta Delgada. The gates is part of the City's Waterfront Access Plan. Click here to read the Herald News article about the dedication ceremony.
 

(Top row, center) State Representative Michael J. Rodrigues with his Aide Pedro Amaral and Mayor Edward M. Lambert, Jr. discuss final preparations for the ceremony. (Middle row, left) State Representative Robert Correia speaks with his aide (right) while Mayor Lambert (center) greets well-wishers at the event. (Pedro Amaral discusses final plans for the ceremony with Project Committee Chairman Francisco Cabral as a member of the Fall River Police honor guard looks on. (Bottom row) The crowd enjoys entertainment provided by one of the groups of Portuguese folk dancers at the event, serenaded by members of one of the Fall River Portuguese bands.