Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway

The Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway is a National Scenic Byway in the Capital District region of New York, United States. It extends from Schenectady to Waterford by way of a series of local, county, and state highways along the Mohawk River and the Erie Canal. The Byway tells the story of the waterway west and its many layers of history from native American times, through Erie Canal and the role our communities played in the industrial revolution and the westward expansion of the country.

Built on local grass roots enthusiasm the Byway was added to the network of New York State Scenic Byways in July 2003.^[1] It gained the designation as one of America's Byways in September 2005.^[2][3][4] The name is derived from the River and Native American people. "Towpath" comes from that period of canal history when canal vessels moved principally by draft animals, mostly mules, that pulled craft from the path atop the side berm of the canal.^[5]

References

1. ^ Mohawk Towpath Byway Corridor Management Plan, 2003.
2. ^ Daily Gazette, Mohawk Path Gets Federal Designation, by Pam Allen, 9/27/2003.
3. ^ Times Union, Historic Citation for Road, by Dennis Yusko, 9/27/2005.
4. ^ Community News, Mohawk Towpath Receives National Designation at Washington Ceremony, by Glenn Griffith, 9/30/2005.
5. ^ Mohawk Towpath Byway Corridor Management Plan, 2003.

See also

1. New York State Highway Law, Section349-dd as amended by Chapter 138 of the Laws of 2003.
2. Daily Gazette, Mohawk Path Gets Federal Designation, by Pam Allen, 9/27/2003.
3. Times Union, Historic Citation for Road, by Dennis Yusko, 9/27/2005.
4. Community News, Mohawk Towpath Receives National Designation at Washington Ceremony, by Glenn Griffith, 9/30/2005.
5. Mohawk Towpath Byway Corridor Management Plan, 2003.
6. http://www.mohawktowpath.org/