Ask a dozen Joplin residents whether Grand Falls is natural or man-made, and you'll probably get a 50/50 response- no one really knows or remembers, and it is not easy to tell just by looking. So I did some research, and I learned that Grand Falls is half man-made and half naturally formed. As early as the 1870s, settlers in this railroad boomtown were regularly visiting Grand Falls for rest and recreation. Grand Falls was a naturally occurring waterfall at this time- as the natural course of Shoal Creek cascaded over a massive chert ledge. In 1891, a man-made dam was added just above the natural falls. This dam was connected to a hydroelectric power plant that produced electricity for Joplin and the surrounding communities of turn-of-the-century Missouri. Although that powerplant has long since fallen into ruin, the dam's ledge remains, adding height and visual interest to the waterfall.