Mill Mile - Paterson Great Falls National 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 gritty city self-guided walking tour of the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, and follow news anchor Brian Williams, NFL star Victor Cruz, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Junot Díaz, and a diverse mix of Paterson youth, historians, and 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, too.

The Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park is one of our newest national parks, and much of it is still in the planning stage. But there’s still plenty to see now—beginning with the awesome power of the Great Falls itself. So download Mill Mile, and let’s get started!