Great Falls of Paterson National Historical site – New Jersey
Driving back from an event in New Jersey, I spotted the familiar brown National Park sign for Great Falls of Paterson. Recognizing that unmistakable marker, I asked Marty to pull off the highway for a newer national park.
What we found was the Great Falls of the Passaic River plunging about 77 feet. We learned beyond the beauty of the falls lies a significant chapter of early American history.
In 1791, Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of Treasury, envisioned using the power of the river to fuel American industry and reduce dependence on foreign manufacturing. Peterson became one of the country’s first planned industrial cities. A system of raceways diverted water from the falls to power mills that produced textiles, silk and firearms. By the late 19th century, Paterson was known as “Silk City” and its mills helped drive the American Industrial Revolution.
The site was officially designated a National Historical Park in 2009 and signed into law by Barack Obama. The site was recognized for both the natural power of the falls and their role in shaping the nation’s economy.
History hides in plain sight. A brown sign along the highway and a decision to pull over led us to this site. Exploration is not always carefully planned; sometimes it begins with curiosity. These unplanned stops often lead to a deeper understanding of how water, vision and industry helped shape a young nation.
Read More From Nancy
National Parks Canyon de Chelly National Monument – Arizona
Visiting Canyon de Chelly was a unique experience from the moment we arrived. We stayed in a hotel just outside the canyon, and the environment was a bit different: dogs and even horses were roaming freely. It was clear that the rhythms of life here followed different customs. The canyon lies within the Navajo Nation, the largest Native […]
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park – Hawaii
Visiting Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park on the Big Island is an encounter with a living cultural landscape that reflects how Natick Hawaiians sustained themselves for centuries in balance with land and sea. In the park are the traditional fishponds built from lava rock and guided by tidal flow. Fish were allowed to enter and grow which provided […]
Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site – Massachusetts
Long before Massachusetts became synonymous with textile mills, industry was already taking root along the Saugus River. In 1646, a group of English investors organized as the Company of Undertakers of the Iron Works in New England established what would become the first successful integrated ironworks in colonial North America. Their goal was to reduce the […]
