The Senate has approved legislation to designate the Great Falls in Paterson, New Jersey a National Historic Park.
The measure would enable the park to receive federal funding. The Great Falls is the second-highest waterfall in the eastern United States.
“The Great Falls in Paterson is a landmark that deserves recognition as a national historic park. Giving the Great Falls this designation would go a long way toward recognizing the beauty and history of the site and helping preserve it for future generations,” one of the sponsors of the bill, Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg said.
Great Falls have a long and storied history. They were the energy force for America's first industrial city, as planned by Alexander Hamilton.
Among the industries driven by water power from the fall were some of the first locomotives and Samuel Colt's firearms.
