Madison County, NY

The heart of New York State!


Heritage Trail Maps



In December 2005 the Madison County Planning Department on behalf of the Madison County Bicentennial Commission received funding from the General Fund of the Central New York Community Foundation for a 2006 Heritage Trails project that has resulted in the establishment of these four trails:

(1) The Madison County Architecture and Preservation Trail identifies buildings selected at each of Madison County’s sixteen Townships that best represent their social, economic and cultural history. In addition to reflecting the composition of early settlers of the County and the unique style of architecture typical of the times, this Trail features buildings associated with individuals who participated in the abolitionist movement, the building of the Erie Canal and another movement in our country’s history, the formation of Utopian societies.

(2) The Madison County Freedom Trail marks countywide sites of the Underground Railroad that have been identified and researched by the Madison County Freedom Trail Commission. This Commission was created in 2001 by the County Board of Supervisors to assure that steps be taken to identify and preserve the historic resources of the County related to the Underground Railroad and the struggle to end slavery in the United States. The Madison County Freedom Trail recognizes former Madison County residents who provided significant local community leadership in the struggle to end slavery in the United States. This Trail provides a missing link to the Heritage New York Trail, the statewide Underground Railroad Trail, and the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom, the National Underground Railroad Trail.

(3) The Madison County History Trail marks the locations of twenty historical organizations in the County that highlight the history of each Township. These diverse cultural institutions contain special exhibits featuring photographs, area artifacts, period clothing, furniture, memorabilia and genealogical material which tell the story of the life of Madison County’s earlier generations.

(4) The Madison County Hop Heritage Trail marks hop kilns and other related hop sites still in existence that document the agricultural impact of commercial hop production in the agricultural history of Madison County and New York State. Hops were grown in a seven county area of which Madison, Oneida and Otsego County were the highest producers.

Marked with numbered cast aluminum signage designed in the shape of the map of Madison County, these historic theme trails collectively span the 661 square miles of the County. By traveling down these thematic trails, individuals can learn more about the physical, economic, cultural and social changes that have taken place in the towns, villages, hamlets and countryside of Madison County.

Trail maps are available on this web site. In addition to trail maps historical guidebooks can be downloaded from the Madison County Tourism website. These educational materials can be obtained in hard copy through the offices of the Madison County Historian, Madison County Tourism and the Madison County Historical Society.

Back Side of Heritage Trail Maps


The back side of the Heritage Trail Maps provide additional
information and photos of the history trail sites.

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