The Great Falls in New Jersey - A Natural Attraction with Historical Significance

The Great Falls of the Passaic River, located just 12rainfall or snow-melt, and during those periods of
miles from New York City in the city of Paterson,flooding, the Falls is at its best as an awesome sight
New Jersey, is a not only spectacular naturalwith the tremendous down pouring of water
attraction in the nation’s most populous state,cascading over the falls.
it also gained historical significance in the early stagesIn the second week of April, 2007, 8 inches of rain
of the American industrial Revolution by supplyingdrenched the area and produced the "Great
water power to the nation’s firstFlood" that flowed down the Passaic River and
manufacturing center.over the Falls.
The falls now 77 feet high, emerged approximatelyThe Great Falls - A National Historic Park
13,000 years ago the end of the ice age. As theIn 2009, President Barack Obama signed the
glaciers ice melted, the Passaic River swelled andlegislation making The Great Falls and its surrounding
rerouted it's way around the north end of the35 acres a National Park. This legislation now provides
Watchung Mountains, carving out the spectacular fallsprotection and increased funding to the park.
from the basalt base.The Falls is a natural "diamond in the
Early habitation of the surrounding falls began withrough" and the foundation of America’s
the native Lenape Indians, followed by Dutch settlerseconomic development. A master plan or design
in the in the 17th century.vision has been developed for the recovery of the
The Great Falls and the American IndustrialGreat Falls, the surrounding area, and historical
Revolutionindustrial sites, to create and orderly plan to integrate
The Falls also has a place in history with thethem into one spectacular new public space. This new
American Industrial Revolution as one of theintegrated public park is intended to commemorate
nation’s first manufacturing centers thatthe Great Falls and its place in the history of the
benefited from the falls water source to generateAmerican Revolution while preserving the viewing and
power to run mills that manufactured locomotives,natural beauty of the Great Falls.
guns, silk, and aircraft engines.Best Place to View The Falls
In 1778, after visiting the Falls Alexander Hamilton,The falls can best be viewed from three spots;
first realized the water power potential for industrialHamilton Park on the south, from the bridge down
development and when he later became theriver from the falls, and Overlook Park on the north.
country's first treasury secretary, he spearheadedGreat Falls Historic District Visitor Center
the development of the nation's first plannedLocated across from the Falls, The Great Falls Historic
industrial city.District Cultural Center is a great place to learn about
Two manufactures of prominence, The Rogersthe history and many of the initiatives underway to
Locomotive Works and Colt, where the first Colt .45develop the area.
revolvers were produced, benefited by the waterVisitor Information:
power from the falls.The Great Falls Historic District Cultural Center
The Passaic River is prone to flooding from heavy65 McBride Ave.