Since 1786, when Ira Allen constructed a dam on the Winooski River and built sawmills at both ends, the city of Winooski has been an industrial center. Textile mills were first established in 1835 and expanded for the next 75 years. The two remaining mills on the Winooski side of the river have been rehabilitated for residential and commercial purposes. The Champlain Mill, the Woolen Mill, the Winooski Block, and the Riverfront Park are a few of the significant sites.