New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx in Bronx County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Bronx River - Waterfall Overlook
This man-made waterfall once helped to power the Stone Mill downstream.
The Bronx River flows 23 miles from Valhalla, near the Kensico Reservoir in Westchester County in New York, to its mouth at the East River. It is the only freshwater river in New York City.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Bronx River powered the mill of the Lorillard family, tobacco merchants who owned some of the land on which The New York Botanical Garden now sits. The Lorillards built this stone dam to replace an old wooden dam, which has been dated to around 1760. Fast-moving water from the dam flowed along a channel called a mill race (now a path along the river) and into the Stone Mill downstream. The Stone Mill constructed in 1840 to grind tobacco into snuff. after the City of New York bought this property in the late 1800s, they lowered the dam and piled rocks to achieve the look of a natural cascade.
In recent years, conservation efforts led by the Bronx River Alliance have successfully restored the natural habitats in the river for plant and animal species. Today the Bronx River is home to a variety of bird species, including
this page online
Erected by New York Botanical Garden.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1760.
Location. 40° 51.706′ N, 73° 52.483′ W. Marker is in Bronx, New York, in Bronx County. It is in New York Botanical Garden. It is on Waterfall Trail north of Bridge Trail, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1575 Bronx Park Rd, Bronx NY 10467, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New York City. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within
Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 9, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 121 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 9, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
