![]() ![]() If I were to guess, I’d say this is carrying water? We felt like maybe it should have been a bit better secured. I hope it’s not anything too terribly important because it really is just out there all unsecured like. Overhead view of the lower section of the Passaic River.īefore you get above the falls themselves, you’ll encounter this massive pipe that is presumably still used for something, though we were surprised that you could basically just walk right up to it, and on it, and over it if you so chose. The upper section of the Passaic River leading to the ledge of the Great Falls. You’ll also get a wonderful overhead view of the lower section of the Passaic River. As you get closer, you’ll see where the river travels through the town and over toward the ledge of the falls. Here you can catch glimpses of the falls off in the distance and admire one of the historical buildings that has been preserved and maintained on the park property (and is even still in use!) This hydroelectric plant was built in 1914, and it still provides power to thousands of local residents today!įrom the lawn, you’ll need to climb back up to street level and circle around to the right in order to reach the falls viewing area. ![]() The museum and welcome center (and bathrooms!) were closed due to COVID, and though there were park rangers on-site, there weren’t any tours being offered at the time we visited. Prior to our visit, though, we printed out the map and brochure for the park’s self-guided walking tour called the “Mill Mile” (there’s also an app), and we used that as we worked our way through the park.īelow the parking lot, there is a large lawn area where you can get up close to the Passaic River. You can’t fully appreciate the falls from the parking lot – you need to get closer! We got the last spot in the little parking lot and were immediately treated with our first glimpse of the falls. The park wasn’t particularly crowded, and we weren’t sure if that was due to the fact that it was a holiday and people were otherwise engaged or if, like us, people really just don’t know this park even exists. It was a beautiful day on the 4th of July when we visited, but it was also very sunny, muggy, and hot. (Thanks, Obama!) Visiting Paterson Great Falls The area around Paterson Great Falls is officially designated a National Historical Park, having just only been deemed as such in 2011. Located on the Passaic River, the Paterson Great Falls are 77 feet tall and stretch 300 feet wide, and the park’s literature describes them as the second most powerful falls east of the Mississippi. The falls powered local Paterson mills for more than 100 years before Paterson eventually went the way of most other former manufacturing cities in the U.S. At one point, Paterson also produced so much silk that it became known as “Silk City”. And so, American manufacturing began, with Paterson being home to the production of textiles, firearms, and even locomotives. This location in particular was selected because the hydropower created by the falls was essential for getting a manufacturing center up and running. The city was named for a Hamilton supporter, Governor William Paterson of New Jersey, who is also known as a former senator, Supreme Court justice, and signer of the U.S. Statue of Alexander Hamilton at Paterson Great Falls National Historical ParkĪs such, Hamilton selected the area above and around the Great Falls to be the site of America’s first planned industrial city, Paterson, NJ. needed to begin to manufacture our own goods. Once a free and independent country, though, the U.S. did not have its own manufacturing processes in place since it had not actually been permitted for us to do so while under British rule. was still heavily reliant on the British and others for supplying manufactured goods. (If you don’t believe me, you can read this really, really long report he gave on the subject to Congress back in 1791.)Īfter the Revolutionary War, the U.S. What you may not know, though, is that Hamilton is actually the founder of American manufacturing. You may recall that the 4th of July weekend was when Disney+ launched the Hamilton movie, which we (and many, many other people) proceeded to watch during the holiday. And on the 4th of July, we decided to head on over to check it out! History of Paterson Great Falls ![]() Located not even 15 miles from NYC, this lovely little park sits on the site of America’s first manufacturing center known as Paterson, NJ. ![]() During several of our recent drives to NJ to go hiking, we passed signs for a national park that neither my husband nor I even knew existed: Paterson Great Falls. ![]()
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