A new scenic byway tracing the path of freedom seekers across Central and Western New York will soon guide visitors through some of the state’s most significant Underground Railroad landmarks.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation officially adding the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway to New York’s scenic byway system. The first phase of the route spans nearly 177 miles and connects 22 sites associated with Harriet Tubman, the Underground Railroad and freedom seekers traveling toward liberty.
The byway begins in Auburn, where Tubman spent much of her later life, and travels through Cayuga, Seneca, Ontario, Wayne, Monroe, Orleans, Erie and Niagara counties before ending at Niagara Falls. State transportation officials said new highway signs will soon be installed to mark the route and direct travelers to historic landmarks along the corridor.
The route includes the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, two National Historic Landmarks and 14 National Park Service Network to Freedom sites. State officials said the byway will also connect visitors with existing African American neighborhoods, businesses and cultural sites while encouraging heritage tourism and economic development in communities along the route.
“There is no state in the nation with a larger Underground Railroad footprint than the Empire State,” Hochul said in announcing the legislation. “Through the creation of this new scenic byway, we honor the legacy of the men and women who made this dangerous journey, paving the way for a new birth of freedom for millions of African Americans.”
The New York State Department of Transportation has been working with the Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State for several years to develop a corridor management plan for the route. Officials said future enhancements could include interpretive exhibits, kiosks, events and visitor experiences designed to tell the stories of freedom seekers and abolitionists who helped operate the Underground Railroad.
Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said the byway will help preserve and share a chapter of New York history that remains relevant today. She noted that Tubman and others risked their lives to help enslaved people gain freedom and that the new route will provide visitors with opportunities to learn more about those efforts.
The legislation comes as New York and the nation prepare for celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. Supporters say the byway will serve as both a tourism asset and a lasting tribute to Tubman’s leadership, courage and impact on American history.
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