Madison: History, Nature and Outdoor Art

Discover Madison County through a range of themes: trails through the landscape, outdoor art and historic places. When choosing your accommodation, start by asking which of these themes you want to shape your stay.

Trails, Wetlands and Outdoor Art

The Madison County trail network offers opportunities for horseback riding, hiking, cycling and snowmobiling. The Great Swamp Conservancy combines restored wetlands with about seven miles of trails and a 900-foot-long boardwalk. Its great blue heron colony can be seen from a mowed trail and a bird-watching platform. The trails are open daily from dawn to dusk and free to use.

For a different landscape, visit Charles E. Baker State Forest, where hiking is permitted on all trails year-round. Helen McNitt State Park covers 133 acres and is designated for extensive recreation. Its landscape includes wooded hills, farmland and a shoreline area made up mostly of wetlands.

At Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, trails wind through 104 acres of meadows and woodland, past contemporary sculptures and changing installations. Here, the landscape and artworks are part of the same walk. If you would rather include a variety of activities in your trip plans, the county trail network offers options for hikers and cyclists, as well as horseback riding and snowmobiling.

History Along Themed Trails

Several Heritage Trails explore the county’s history from different 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 that were identified and researched by the Madison County Freedom Trail Commission.

The Madison County History Trail marks 20 historical organizations. Their exhibits include photographs, regional artifacts, historic clothing, furniture, memorabilia and genealogical material. The Madison County Hop Heritage Trail focuses on agriculture, marking preserved hop kilns and other related hop sites that document the history and impact of commercial hop farming in Madison County and New York State. Together, the themed trails span everything from buildings and social history to regional agriculture.

Museums and Historic Sites

The Oneida Community Mansion House operates as a museum and National Historic Landmark. The 90-minute tours take visitors through historic living spaces and museum galleries. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; self-guided tours are available during those hours. You can choose between a tour of a set duration and a self-guided visit during opening hours.

The Gerrit Smith Estate is 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.

The Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum includes three dry dock basins, as well as a reconstructed general store, blacksmith shop, boat shop, mule barn and visitor center. The Empire State Trail runs just beyond the canal at the museum and is suitable for cycling, hiking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The museum is listed on the state and national registers of historic places and features a rare 19th-century dry dock complex.

The county’s museums also offer a range of different focuses. The Museum at Cazenovia Public Library displays an Egyptian mummy, Native American tools and local artifacts spanning several millennia of history. Since collection displays may change, check current exhibitions before traveling. The All Things Oz Museum displays more than 1,400 original props and costumes from stage and screen; its exhibits may also change over time.

Exhibits at the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum explore the abolition of slavery, abolitionists and the 1835 founding convention of the New York State Antislavery Society. The Canastota Canal Town Museum explores the legacy of the Erie Canal through memorabilia, art and exhibits. Its outdoor grounds feature interpretive signs, murals and historic lift-bridge towers. Check seasonal visitor information before traveling.

The grounds of the New Woodstock Regional Historical Society include a historic train station, a caboose and the museum’s main building. Inside, visitors can see historical artifacts related to farming, cooking, sewing and education, along with changing exhibits. The Wildlife Museum at Morrisville State is a teaching collection of taxidermied animals from North America and Africa, arranged in themed rooms. It displays more than 60 taxidermied specimens and themed exhibits. Before visiting, check access conditions during the academic year and the current exhibition schedule.

Trip Planning and Hotel Location

Critz Farms offers a pick-your-own experience and has a taproom serving fresh cider and craft beer. Madison County can be reached via Interstate 90 at exits 33 and 34. Public transportation is limited, so plan your trip accordingly. Factor this into your choice of hotel location, and plan around the places and activities that matter most to your stay.

Discover more destinations: Canastota, Morrisville, Oneida, Chittenango, Cazenovia, Leonardsville, Genesee, Essex.

For the broader travel overview: New York.