The Trestle Bridge James River 2025 The sight of commercial and high-rise buildings adjacent to river rapids is a sign of a Fall Line city. Richmond is perhaps the best-known of these; it served as an important entrepot of trade between the world and European settlers of the Piedmont.
Fredericksburg Water Works Rappahannock River 2025 This is one of the remaining ruins of nineteenth century water works. Races were built to divert water from upstream to power mills and provide running water to homes.
Trenton Makes, the World Takes Delaware River 2025 The slogan "Trenton Makes, The World Takes" was installed on this bridge in 1935 when the city was a thriving industrial center. Today, Trenton's biggest employer is the state of New Jersey. Each weekday, 20,000 state workers flood into the city from surrounding suburbs.
New Jersey Statehouse Delaware River 2025 Manufacturing in Trenton collapsed from its 1950 peak of roughly 25,000 jobs down to about 10,000 today. State government stepped in to fill the void—growing to over 62,000 jobs. The city literally transformed from an industrial powerhouse to a government administrative center within a generation.
Georgetown C&O Canal Renovation Potomac River 2025 Construction of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, one of the most important American waterways in the early nineteenth century, was begun in 1828. It provided a 185-mile-long link from the Potomac Fall Line to the Ohio River, connecting the American hinterland with the world. Today, construction is underway to restore the canal and towpath in Georgetown to be enjoyed by tourists and bikers.
CSX James River 2025 During the Civil War, Richmond's railroads were central to the Confederate war effort—and ultimately a major target of destruction. As Union forces entered Richmond in April 1865, retreating Confederate troops set fire to bridges, depots, and rail yards to prevent capture. These fires spread and caused much of the city to burn during the evacuation.
C&O Canal Potomac River 2025 Canals were often cut along the fall line to move goods through the growing cities shaped by its geology. They supported warehouses and factories, many powered directly by the river before steam. Here, an early commercial building—once tied to that system—has been repurposed as a loft office, standing above the dry bed of the C&O Canal in Georgetown.
Pair of Eights Potomac River 2025 As their importance to commerce faded, urban waterways became increasingly used for recreation.
Wilkins-Rogers Company Flour Mill Patapsco River 2025 This historic structure sits on the site where the Ellicott Brothers built the first commercial flour mill in the United States in 1792, founding Ellicott City. Their mill was the start of the industrial revolution in Maryland. This edifice is all that remains of the last operating flour mill in Maryland. It is currently being developed into a mixed-use commercial project.
B&O Line Patapsco River 2025 This defunct B&O Railroad (always a favorite property in the game Monopoly) trestle over the Patapsco River was built in the nineteenth century to transport grain from the Ohio Valley to the Ellicot Flour Mill near Baltimore. This was the terminus of the first railroad to go into service in America.