Welcome to Paterson, New Jersey, the "Silk City"!
Paterson, NJ, known as the "Silk City" because of its lead role in silk production
in the United States in the mid-19th century, is steeped in history traced back to Alexander Hamilton.
EarthCam
and the
City of Paterson
proudly present a live view of the "Great Falls"
that powered the 18th century manufacturing example of utilizing natural resources for
industrial development and urban planning
In 1791 Hamilton was one of the founders of the "Society for the Establishment of Useful Manufactures" which
sought to utilize the energy from the spectacular "Great Falls." The Passaic River falls are second only to
Niagara in volume, width and force on the United States east coast, dropping over a rocky ledge 77 feet to the
basin below. With the idea to harness the power of the crashing waters Hamilton and the society enlisted Pierre
Charles'L'Enfant, who is famous for planning and engineering the layout of Washington, D.C., to create
the falls- driven power source. Paterson was the first American community integrating water-power into
its economic infrastructure on a large scale.
The resulting abundance of water and steam energy attracted entrepreneurs from around
the country earning Paterson the reputation according to many historians of being
"The Cradle of American Industry." The textile industry was one of the earliest to develop
making it the nation's center for silk. As a result of its Mid-19th century dominance
it is still referred to as the "Silk City."
But silk and textiles were not Paterson's only claim to fame. Industries taking advantage
of the power and location included manufacturers of Colt revolvers, flax, jute, steam
locomotives and early Wright Aircraft Engines among many others. Several old mill buildings
have been renovated and are now used as offices, living space, cultural facilities and schools.
The 119-acre "Great Falls Area" was declared a historic landmark by President Gerald R. Ford
during a visit in 1976, designated an official New Jersey State Park in 2004 and was designated a
U.S. National Park in March, 2009.
City of Paterson Great Falls Center
provides educational tours tracing the role of
the falls "in U.S History."
For more information, please visit our affiliate at www.patersonnj.gov.
