Over 300,000 people visited the Paterson Great Falls in 2017, according to the official numbers from the National Park Service—a 74% increase from 2016!
Read more about why people can't get enough of our national park.
Visitorship skyrocketing at Paterson National Park
Over 300,000 people visited the Paterson Great Falls in 2017, according to the official numbers from the National Park Service—a 74% increase from 2016! Read more about why people can't get enough of our national park. |
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The Paterson Great Falls: The Next Hot Spot for Tourists
Delicious food from dozens of countries and cultures. Inspiration for America's great poets and artists. Engineering and architectural works from the Industrial Revolution through the 20th Century. A breathtaking natural wonder in the heart of the city. Only in Paterson can you experience all of these in just one day. Major newspapers all over the country are recognizing all that Paterson has to offer, and encouraging readers to see the Silk City. |
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A National Pastime for All Americans at Hinchliffe Stadium
Watch now: new videos about Negro League Baseball at Paterson's Historic Hinchliffe StadiumThe Hamilton Partnership wrote the legislation and played a leading role in making Hinchliffe the first stadium in a National Historical Park. President Obama signed the law to add Hinchliffe Stadium to the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park in December 2014.
“Hinchliffe Stadium Memories” tells the remarkable story of one of the last surviving Negro League stadiums. Located in Paterson spectators witnessed midget car races, performances by Duke Ellington and Lou Costello, football games, boxing matches, high school graduations, and great baseball.
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A Tale of Two Historic Cities: Paterson and Washington, D.C.
Our new exhibit "A Tale of Two Historic Cities: Paterson and Washington, D.C." is now open at the Paterson Museum. The exhibit explores the special relationship between our nation's industrial and government capitals that began over two centuries ago and continues to this day.
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"Paterson" Brings the Great Falls to the Big Screen
In November we held an event to honor Adam Driver for his contributions to Paterson's legacy. He sat down with film producers Josh Astrachan and Carter Logan to discuss his time at the Great Falls, working with Jim Jarmusch, and driving a bus through the streets of Paterson. |
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Connecting Culture and Cuisine in Paterson
Food has always been one of the most important ways that we experience and understand difference cultures. It has always been a major part of Paterson's cultural landscape, from Alexander Hamilton's 1778 picnic at the Great Falls to the Latin American, European, and Middle Eastern restaurants that line the city's streets today. Since Hamilton's time Paterson has been a city of immigrants, opening its doors to people from around the world looking for new opportunities. Hamilton championed the "diversity of talents" that immigrants would bring to the new nation. Each successive wave of newcomers has infused Paterson with a new culture and character, making it the diverse, multicultural city it is today. People nationwide are discovering what Paterson has to offer. The Washington Post called the city's markets, bakeries, and restaurants "a dream come true." And the Los Angeles Times describes Paterson as a must-see destination—even giving directions on how to get here from California.
Paterson restaurants and businesses that participated in Great Falls, Great Food, Great Stories and Savor Paterson include:
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Savor Paterson Cultural Festival
SAVOR PATERSONCelebrating the 100th Birthday of the National Park Service with the Food and Stories of PatersonAlexander Hamilton founded Paterson as the first city planned from the start to stimulate industry and innovation. He welcomed the "diversity of talents" that immigrants would bring to the workforce. Since Hamilton's time Paterson has been a city of immigrants, opening its doors to people from around the world looking for new opportunities. Each successive wave of newcomers has infused Paterson with a new culture and character, making it into the multicultural city it is today. Food is one of the most important ways that we experience and understand different cultures. It has always been a part of Paterson's cultural landscape, from Alexander Hamilton's 1778 picnic at the Great Falls to the Latin American, European, and Middle Eastern restaurants that line the city's streets today. Savor Paterson invites visitors to explore Paterson's rich history and culture through its many cuisines. Savor Paterson is the first of three events at the Paterson Great Falls National Park celebrating the 100th birthday of the National Park Service. The Centennial kicks off the second century of America's National Parks, reaching and building communities through recreating, conservation, and historic preservation. "Savor the Past" family program How has food in Paterson changed over time? Join Park Rangers and the Great Falls Youth Corps at Overlook Park in celebrating 225 years of Paterson's cultural diversity through food and stories. View a model of Paterson's past restaurants, learn about Patersonians' favorite dishes and recipes, and add your own favorite family meals to the display. Afterwards, take a short walk to Mary Ellen Kramer Park to experience the food cultures in Paterson today! Savor Paterson restaurant tasting Visit several of Paterson's finest restaurants to get a true taste of the city. Each restaurant will be selling small samples of their cuisine for $1-$3.
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Great Falls Great Food Great Stories
Great Falls Great Food Great Stories is a project that connects the history of the Great Falls to contemporary life in Paterson. The Great Falls are at the center of Paterson and American history, and food is a central part of our lives and cultures, in Paterson and beyond. A collaboration of the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, the Hamilton Partnership for Paterson, and Paterson restaurants and businesses, Great Falls Great Food Great Stories brings the park into the city. Nine “storyfronts” that share stories of Paterson, food, and the Falls are installed around Market and South Main Streets. Look out for them and for signage and special placemats in participating neighborhood restaurants. Alexander Hamilton’s 1778 picnic at the Great Falls of the Passaic wasn’t just a peaceful break from the fighting of the Revolutionary War—it also planted the seeds of an idea. While some envisioned the new United States as a nation of independent farmers, Hamilton thought that America’s story should start with a new city, one that would stimulate industry and innovation. He welcomed the “diversity of talents” that immigrants would bring to the workforce. Paterson went on to attract people from around the world, who came to the city to work and make a better life for themselves and for their families. They would develop many of the industries and inventions that put Paterson on the map. People in Paterson have always worked hard to put food on the table—and they have always enjoyed the landscape of the Great Falls. They have strived to preserve their heritage while adopting new cultures and customs. Their story is the same today. The businesses, foods, and languages may have changed, but the dream is the same.
A project by Team Paterson for the Hamilton Partnership for Paterson: Friends of the Paterson National Park. Produced with the support of the New Jersey Council on the Humanities. Great Falls Great Food Great Stories was created by Team Paterson: Manuel Miranda, Mariana Mogilevich, Valeria Mogilevich, with Yuyeon Cho, Sarah Harrs, Fred Pirlot. Based on a proposal as part of the 2015 Van Alen Institute/National Parks Service Competition National Parks Now, which also included Frances Medina, June Williamson, and Willy Wong. Special thanks to:Josephine Abarca, Dora Cohen, Jacqueline Daniels, Ocie High, Crescenzo Lalama, Margarita, Yadira Lopez, Senior Activities Program, Catholic Family & Community Services, located at Governor Paterson Towers; Abdullah Abedrabbo; Agnes Aknid, Willese Bennett, Mae Sue Boyd, Sharon Haley, Humon, Paterson Adult Center at the Dr. Norman Cotton Homes, Catholic Charities; Yesi Alejo, School 15; Gianfranco Archimede, Paterson Historic Preservation Commission; Susan Balik, Cultural Affairs at Passaic County Community College; Jef Berg, Catholic Charities; Joseph Bubba, Jr.; Tom Carroll; Kevin Cherashore and Phil Redisch, M. S. Signs; Cynthia Czesak, Paterson Public Library; Lynn Gaffney, Catholic Family & Community Services; Rusty Giammichele, Mario's Uniforms; Jaquair Gillette; Evelyn M. Hershey, American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark; Jasmine Moreano and Claudia Urdanivia, City Green; Al Nouri, Nouri Brothers; Pantano's Dairy; Paterson Division of Cultural & Community Affairs; Sarai Perez and Erik Sosa, Park Rangers, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park; Councilman André Sayegh; Maria Luz Sudaño Mah; Daniel Walkowitz, New York University |
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Breaking News: New Visitor Center Coming to the Paterson Great Falls
Future park visitors will have a new way to experience the history, culture, and beauty of the Great Falls—the Alexander Hamilton Center. The plan for the Center was announced at today's meeting of the national park's Federal Advisory Commission. The world-class visitor center will include exhibits that explore the national park's major interpretive themes, including economic independence, immigration and labor, industry and innovation, arts and literature, and Negro League baseball. |
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It All Started with a Picnic at the Great Falls
On July 10, 1778, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and the Marquis de Lafayette stopped for lunch at the Great Falls. Years later, as the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton founded the City of Paterson as the birthplace of America's economic independence, fueled by the rushing water of the Passaic River.
At 1:00 p.m. living historians portraying Washington, Hamilton, and Lafayette will recreate the famous picnic. We encourage visitors to bring their own picnic lunch and dine along with the founding fathers! After the picnic, visitors will be able to meet and talk to the founding fathers. At 2:00 p.m. rangers will lead an hour-long walking tour of the national park. The tour will conclude at the Paterson Museum, where visitors can explore some of the incredible inventions and technological innovations from Paterson that would forever change life in America, and around the world. The Museum will also feature the traveling exhibition Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made America, organized by the New-York Historical Society. This beautifully-designed display tells the story of Hamilton’s life, from his childhood as a poor orphan in the Caribbean, to his journey to New Jersey to begin his education, to his rise as one of our most important founding fathers.
These events are hosted by the National Park Service and the Hamilton Partnership, and by the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society as part of their annual CelebrateHAMILTON program. For a full schedule of 2016 CelebrateHAMILTON programming, visit www.celebratehamilton.com. Click the link below to download the flyer for the event. |