The potential power of the great falls of the Passaic river inspired Alexander Hamilton to plan Paterson as America's first industrial city. Samuel Colt made the first successful repeating revolver here.

The iron rich Ramapo Mountains in Passaic County led to forges being built in Ringwood in the early 1700s. Ironmaster Robert Erskine sided with the Colonies during the Revolutionary War. His forges worked overtime turning out munitions, cannons, and most of the hugh chain that was stretched across the Hudson to prevent British ships from reaching West Point.

During the 1913 Paterson silk strike thousands gather at the Botto house in Haledon. This strike was a major turning point in the history of unionized labor and the house is a National Landmark.

Catholina Lambert was born in Goose Eye, England in 1834. The son of working-class parents, he came to America at the age of 17 to seek his fortune. He found it "in silk," and by 1890 was one of the largest mill owners in Paterson, the Silk City of the New World. In 1892, Lambert built his castle on Garret Mountain, "Belle Vista," to serve as an elegant setting for his fine collection of European and American paintings and sculpture. Debts incurred during the great 1913 silk strike forced him to sell much of his art collection in 1916. Despite this, he lived comfortably in the castle until his death in 1923. After Lambert’s death, his son Walter sold the castle to the city of Paterson, and it was used as a day camp for disadvantaged children. In 1928, it passed to the Passaic County Park Commission. Today, the Castle serves as the museum and headquarters of the Passaic County Historical Society.

The Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center (On the campus of Montclair State University, 8 Quarry Road, Little Falls) houses permanent and rotating exhibits about baseball and Yankee history as well as Yogi Berra's storied career. The museum mission is to celebrate and chronicle the life of Yogi Berra and to reflect his lifelong commitment to the education of young people. Our goal as a learning center is to offer culturally diverse, inclusive educational programming, conferences and rotating exhibits to enhance public awareness of sport and its role in society.