A building can represent social, economic and cultural history; a preserved hop kiln points to the legacy of commercial hop growing. In Madison County, these different historical perspectives meet nature destinations, museums and opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. The county’s trail network offers opportunities for horseback riding, hiking, cycling and snowmobiling. Each themed trail and landscape destination has its own focus.
Outdoors Among Wetlands and Art
The Great Swamp Conservancy features restored wetlands, about seven miles of trails and a 900-foot boardwalk. Its great blue heron colony can be viewed from a mowed path and a bird observation platform. The trails are open daily from dawn to dusk and free to use. Hiking is permitted year-round on all trails in Charles E. Baker State Forest. Helen McNitt State Park covers 133 acres and is intended for low-impact recreation. Its landscape includes wooded hills and farmland; the shoreline is made up mostly of wetlands.
At Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, trails pass contemporary sculptures and changing installations. The 104-acre site includes meadows and woodland. Artworks and installations are the focus of this landscape park, while the Great Swamp Conservancy has a different emphasis on wetlands, trails and birdwatching.
Four Historic Trails, Four Perspectives
The Madison County Architecture and Preservation Trail identifies buildings in each of the 16 townships that represent the county’s social, economic and cultural history. The Madison County Freedom Trail marks sites countywide on the Underground Railroad, identified and researched by the Madison County Freedom Trail Commission.
The Madison County History Trail identifies 20 historical organizations. Their exhibits include photographs, regional artifacts, historical clothing, furniture, memorabilia and genealogical materials. The Madison County Hop Heritage Trail points to preserved hop kilns and other related hop-growing sites. They document the agricultural impact and history of commercial hop growing in Madison County and New York State. This gives you a choice of different topics, from architectural history and Underground Railroad sites to diverse museum collections and agricultural history.
Museums and the Stories Behind Them
The Oneida Community Mansion House operates as a museum and is a National Historic Landmark. Tours of historic living spaces and museum galleries last 90 minutes. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; self-guided tours are available during those hours. The Gerrit Smith Estate is also a National Historic Landmark and a site on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Gerrit Smith’s home in Peterboro served as the last stop for freedom seekers on their way to Canada and as a safe place where they could stay and build a life for themselves and their descendants.
Exhibits at the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum cover the abolition of slavery, abolitionists and the founding convention of the New York State Antislavery Society in 1835. The Museum at Cazenovia Public Library displays an Egyptian mummy, Native American tools and local artifacts spanning several millennia of history. As collection displays may change, check the current exhibits before your trip. The All Things Oz Museum offers a very different focus, with more than 1,400 original props and costumes from stage and screen; its exhibits may also change.
The grounds of the New Woodstock Regional Historical Society include a historic train station, a caboose and the museum’s main building. Exhibits there feature historical artifacts related to farming, cooking, sewing and education, as well as changing displays. The Wildlife Museum at Morrisville State is a teaching collection of more than 60 mounted specimens from North America and Africa, arranged in themed rooms. For this museum, check access and exhibits in relation to the academic year before your trip; collection details may change.
Canal Heritage, Regional Products and Getting Here
The grounds of the Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum include three dry docks and a reconstructed general store, blacksmith shop, boat repair shop, mule barn and visitor center. The museum is listed on the state and national registers of historic places; the site features a rare 19th-century dry dock complex. The Empire State Trail runs directly across the canal from the museum and is suitable for cycling, hiking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Old Erie Canal State Park is a 36-mile section of the Old Erie Canal and is designated a National Recreational Trail.
The Canastota Canal Town Museum showcases memorabilia, art and exhibits about the Erie Canal’s heritage. Outdoors, you’ll find interpretive panels, murals and historic towers from a lift bridge. Check seasonal visitor information before your trip. Critz Farms offers a pick-your-own experience and has a taproom serving fresh cider and craft beer. Farmstead 1868 focuses on homegrown lavender, its on-site dairy and locally sourced ingredients.
Madison County is accessible via Interstate 90 at exits 33 and 34. Public transportation is limited; plan your trip accordingly.
Discover more destinations: Canastota, Morrisville, Oneida, Chittenango, Cazenovia, Leonardsville, Tioga County, Orange.
For the broader travel overview: New York.
