Posted in New Jersey
February 17, 2019
Your Kids Will Love This Easy 1-Mile Waterfall Hike Right Here In New Jersey
If you’re a frequent reader of Only In New Jersey, you’re likely familiar with the gorgeous Great Falls. I’ve covered them in the past, but not quite like this. Today, I present a mile-long walking tour that takes you to several important and interesting sites, one of which is a breathtaking waterfall. Check it out!
It comes in at around one mile and it's very family friendly! If you're unable (or would prefer not) to download the Mill Mile app, you can just follow along the route detailed below.
It is housed in the restored Thomas Rogers Locomotive and Machine Shop (c. 1873) at the corner of Market Street and Spruce Street, in the heart of the Great Falls National Historic Landmark District. The museum's diverse collections include local archaeology, history, and mineralogy. Paterson has been the birthplace of many innovators and inventors; the museum relates to the history of Paterson by showing its evolution as a machinery and textile center, the "Silk City," locomotive manufacturing, Colt arms, and the unique Holland submarines. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday and admission is free for those under 18, with a suggested donation of just $2 for adults.
Great Falls National Historic Park is a 118-acre site, with the falls at the center. You can also find several restored mills, water flow raceways, a welcome center and gift shop. Admission to the park is free and tours are offered. An impressive 77 feet tall, this is actually one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi by width and volume. The falls were formed about 13,000 years ago, when the ice from Glacial Lake Passaic receded. The falls powered cotton, paper and silk mills and were vital in the development of the Colt Revolver. They were used as a hydraulic power source for the manufacturing plant.
Hinchliffe is a 10,000-seat stadium that was completed in 1932. It is one of only a handful of stadiums surviving nationally that once played host to significant Negro League baseball during America's Jim Crow era. The stadium was designated a National Historic Landmark in March 2013. In 1933, the stadium's first complete season hosting baseball, Hinchliffe hosted the Colored Championship of the Nation, the Negro League equivalent of the World Series. The next year, the New York Black Yankees made the stadium their home, a residency that lasted until 1945, with one brief interruption. Countless legends played at this stadium including hall-of-famer Larry Doby, who broke the American League color barrier in 1947.
While I hope you enjoyed this article, I highly recommend you download the Mill Mile app (for iPhone or Android) for more fascinating information.
You can also learn more about the falls, museum, and local history by visiting the National Parks Website here. To discover a nearby waterfall, click here.
