Proposed Underground Railroad Scenic Byway for New York State

The Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State is proposing the development of a Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Corridor Scenic Byway throughout the state.

"We'd want to honor her legacy and also show people that they can experience it on their own either driving or traveling in the future," said Sage Hamilton-Hazarika, coordinator of the Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State.

Organizers say the Erie Canal was vital to Harriet Tubman's legacy in Lockport.

"The Erie Canal has a very historic part of it," said Danielle Lewis-Jones, outreach coordinator at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Corridor. "A lot of the waterways were very important for freedom seekers in order to be able to escape. Many followed the path of the Erie Canal in order to find their freedom."

The proposed 499.6-mile stretch throughout New York State will embrace the history of Harriet Tubman.

"That stretches from Niagara Falls to Albany, there's a museum that's called the Underground Railroad Education Center," said Hamilton-Hazarika. "And then from there, the proposed corridor route will stretch down to New York City which held a lot of significance sites for Harriett Tubman's journey."

“Notably in Niagara Falls the black wait staff at the Cataract Hotel who were facility freedom for many those stories have been coming to light. So part of building the corridor and the future byway is going to help bring those stories to light conduct more research throughout New York State.” Ally Spongr Degon, interim director, Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center.

Click here to learn more about the initiative.

WKBW