The Great Falls District is a remarkable area of great historical and natural significance, as well as great potential. It is the place where in 1792, Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury, established the nation's first planned industrial city by harnessing the waterpower of the Great Falls through a series of canals or "raceways" to power manufacturing mills. This system was run by the Society for Useful Manufactures (S.U.M.). In addition to its critical role in the nation's history, the District contains in a national natural landmark, the Great Falls of the Passaic River.

The Great Falls/ S.U.M. District has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1970 and has been a National Historic Landmark (NHL) since 1976. The NHL listing is the highest designation of historic importance that the Federal Government can give to an area or property. Over the last 35 years, the City, citizens groups and developers have worked diligently to preserve and restore historical structures in the area. Our plans build on all the good work done to date, and will promote the area as a world-class historical district.

The Vista's