Amoskeag Falls
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox waterfall
| name = Amoskeag Falls
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| coordinates = {{coord|43|00|08|N|71|28|22|W|display=it}}
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| location = Manchester, New Hampshire, United States
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The Amoskeag Falls are a set of waterfalls on the Merrimack River in Manchester, New Hampshire, United States.
History
"Amoskeag" derives from the Pennacook Native American word "Namoskeag", which roughly translates as "good fishing place". Here, the Merrimack River drops {{convert|50|ft|m|0}} over the course of {{convert|0.25|mi|km|2}}.U.S. Geological Survey 7.5-minute topographic map series, Manchester North quadrangle, 1982 Local tribes in the region fished Amoskeag Falls for its plentiful migrating sturgeon, alewife, and salmon, which were easily caught in the rapids. Natives typically used a combination of large nets strung across the river. Significant native settlements were sited near the falls, particularly on the high bluffs overlooking the east side of the river.
In 1807, Samuel Blodgett started a canal and lock system at the river to help vessels navigate around the falls, opening the area to development. This soon led to the use of the falls for a power canal to provide water power for Manchester's 19th century industrial development, most notable for the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company.[http://www.amoskeagfalls.com/history.htm History of the Amoskeag Falls] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050524074449/http://www.amoskeagfalls.com/history.htm |date=May 24, 2005 }}
Use of the name
Due to the significance of the falls in Manchester history, a number of local companies have adopted their name. Examples include the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company (which operated a majority of Manchester's textile mills using power from the falls until they closed in the midst of labor strikes in 1935), its division called the Amoskeag Locomotive Works (an early manufacturer of fire trucks and train cars), and the Amoskeag Fishways (an environmental education center located at the Amoskeag Falls power dam and operated by Eversource Energy).
See also
References
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{{Merrimack River}}
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Category:Manchester, New Hampshire
Category:Waterfalls of New Hampshire
Category:Landforms of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire