Mill Mile

Self-guided walking tour of the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

At the Great Falls in Paterson, New Jersey, spectacular natural beauty and American history come together at the heart of one of America’s newest national parks.

For many Americans, the idea of a national park evokes the likes of Yellowstone, Yosemite, or the Grand Canyon. And like them, this national park features a spectacular natural wonder, the Great Falls of the Passaic River, one of the nation’s most powerful waterfalls.

But the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park is about more than natural beauty. It’s about the urban experience: located right in the center of a city of some 150,000 residents, less than 15 miles from Manhattan. It’s about the human spirit, and the many immigrants who came to this country to build a better life for their families. It’s about perseverance, and men and women overcoming incredible odds. It’s about America, and our nation’s rise to become the world’s greatest manufacturing power.

Download Mill Mile, the self-guided walking tour of the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, and a diverse mix of Paterson youth, historians, actors and athletes, and other public figures as they guide you through the city’s rich history and vibrant present. You’ll even hear a bit of poetry, salsa, and rap.

The Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park is one of our newest national parks, and there’s still plenty to see—beginning with the awesome power of the Great Falls itself. Let’s get started!