Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park features the Passaic River dropping roughly 77 feet (23 meters) in a powerful cascade that was the driving force behind the city's manufacturing growth. The site shows the canal systems, mill buildings, and water management structures that powered the factories and mills of the industrial era.

Alexander Hamilton selected this site in 1792 to build America's first planned industrial city, tapping the falls to power manufacturing operations. Over time, the city became a major hub for textile mills, locomotive works, and silk factories that shaped early American manufacturing.

The falls drew workers from many countries who built lives and communities around the mills and factories that surrounded them. Walking through the area, you can sense how this place shaped the city and brought people together around industrial work.

The grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset, and temporary facilities are available when staff are present on site. Walking paths around the cascades and mill ruins are straightforward to navigate, making it easy to explore the area at your own pace.

The water diversion system used a network of canals that channeled power directly to individual factory buildings rather than powering one central location. This decentralized approach to industrial power was innovative and allowed multiple mills and factories to operate simultaneously around the same falls.

Location: Paterson

Inception: 2011

Website: https://nps.gov/pagr

GPS coordinates: 40.91583,-74.18028

Latest update: December 6, 2025 19:02