Salmon Falls Mill Historic District

Salmon Falls Mill Historic District comprises four large mill structures and seven smaller buildings spread across 14 acres along the Salmon Falls River. The buildings represent different phases of textile production and show how water power was harnessed to run machinery over many decades.

The site began as a sawmill in 1623 when settlers built a dam to use the river's water power. Over the 18th and 19th centuries, it grew into a major textile production center driven entirely by the force of flowing water.

The mills drew workers and their families from many countries, and the presence of Irish, French-Canadian, Italian, and Greek residents shaped how the community developed and lived together.

The site is easy to walk through with paths connecting the various preserved buildings throughout the grounds. Plan time to explore the riverfront areas, and be aware that some paths may vary in accessibility depending on the season.

Number 2 Mill, built in 1848, employed an early turbine system instead of the traditional water wheels used elsewhere. This innovation made the mill run faster and more efficiently than most other facilities of its time.