Paterson, NJ: Great Falls, first planned industrial city in USA

Museum: (HAER; Satellite)

The 11mw Great Falls Hydroelectric Plant is extant.

"Significance: Begun by the Society for the Establishment of Useful Manufacturers under the supervision of Pierre L'Enfant, the Canal System was first completed 1n 1794. Later alterations and improvements were carried out in various phases between about 1800 and 1846. The canal system harnessed the power of one of the largest falls on the east coast, that of the Passlac River, and eventually provided power to over one hundred buildings. Several eminent Americans, Including Alexander Hamilton and Pierre L'Enfant were involved in the SUM, and 1t reflects their interest In furthering America's economic independence, and in fostering technology and industry." [HAER_data]

PatersonGreatFalls
Today, the three tier raceways and 118-acres of old factories are a national park.
"The waterpower system fostered many technological advances in industry, such as the first cotton duck cloth for sails, the first continuous sheet paper, the first revolver by Samuel Colt, and the first practical submarine by John Holland. Paterson became the world's center for the production of cotton, silk and locomotives."

nps, Terry McKenna
"When Alexander Hamilton and the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures (S.U.M.) set out to build the first planned industrial city in America in 1792, the key factor was waterpower. Paterson’s industries clustered around the raceway system built by the company, harnessing the potential energy of the Passaic River and the 77-foot drop in elevation with a three-tiered, human built network of artificial channels. Water, diverted above the great falls, flowed through this system, and drove water wheels, and later, turbines. The mechanical, kinetic energy was connected to machines throughout each factory by a network of shafts, gears, belts, and pulleys."

Here is a stronger flow over the falls.

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Erik Nordberg updated

Our new cover image shows the original Patent Arms Manufacturing Company of Paterson, New Jersey. This company was established by venture capitalists to bring Samuel Colt's first-ever patent for a revolving cylinder multi-shot firearm. The U.S. patent was issued on February 25, 1836.

Photo is from the Patterson Friends of Great Falls site, a support organization for the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park.

http://patersongreatfalls.org/coltgunmill.html

Erik Nordberg: https://www.nps.gov/pagr/index.htm "In 1792, Paterson was established as America's first planned industrial city, centered around the Great Falls of the Passaic River. From humble mills rose industries that changed the face of the nation."

Erik Nordberg: http://patersongreatfalls.org/coltgunmill.html

Note the Samuel Colt factory location in the upper-right corner of this image.

Satellite

Facebook Reel
The Great Falls is 77' (23.5m) high and has a flow second only to Niagara Falls in Eastern USA.

The upper raceway is now a park. The first tier of the raceways went south of the river along the escarpment.

PatersonGreatFalls_map

This is the museum building. Both the Rogers Locomotive & Machine Works and the Grant Locomotive Works were in Paterson, NJ.

Street View, Nov 2020

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3. Aerial view looking northeast showing upper and middle raceways, with Rogers Locomotive and Machine Works in foreground. - Great Falls/S. U. M. Power Canal System, Paterson, Passaic County, NJ

HAER NJ,16-PAT,16--4
4. Aerial view looking south showing middle raceway, with Danforth (Cooke) Locomotive and Machine Co.: Mill #2. 

This photo has been moved to "Paterson, NJ: 1914,1984 11mw Great Falls Hydroelectric."

This photo has been moved to "Paterson, NJ: 1914,1984 11mw Great Falls Hydroelectric."