Designations

Designations. . , 1984 Gerrit Smith Land Office placed on the National and State Register of Historic Places. , 1994 Gerrit Smith Land Office land placed on the National and State Register of Historic Places. , 1994 The Smithfield Community Center placed on the National and State Register of Historic Places. , 1998 The Legacy of New York commemorating the Governors Commission Honoring the Achievements of Women 1848 – 1998 selected Elizabeth Smith Miller for Madison County and erected a New York marker. , 2001 The United States Department of Interior declared the Gerrit Smith Estate a National Historic Landmark, as part of the National Park Service, because it “has been found to possess national significance in the history of the United States.” , 2004 The United States Department of Interior designated the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark as a site on the National Park Service Network to Freedom, the national Underground Railroad Trail. , 2004 The Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark and Smithfield Community Center were designated sites on The Underground Railroad Trail, a program of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. , 2006 The Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark, the Smithfield Community Center, the Free Church of Peterboro, the James Caleb Jackson house, Peterboro Cemetery were designated sites on the Madison County Freedom Trail. , National and State Register of Historic Places , The National Register of Historic Places is the Nation’s official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect our historic and archaeological resources. Properties listed in the Register include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that are significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. The National Register is administered by the National Park Service, which is part of the United States Department of the Interior. , Legacy of Women , The Legacy of New York Women commemorating The Governor’s Commission Honoring the Achievements of Women 1848 – 1998 selected Elizabeth Smith Miller for Madison County and erected a New York State marker. , Seneca Falls, New York 1848 – 1998 The Sesquicentennial of the first convention held for women’s rights in America. In October of 1997, Governor Pataki created the Commission Honoring the Achievements of Women to pay tribute to the 150th anniversary of the first convention for women’s rights which was held in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. The Commission, which was created by executive order, was given a threefold mandate; to educate to celebrate and to honor the women of New York State. , National Historic Landmark , National Historic Landmark are nationally significant historic places designated by the Secretary of the Interior because they possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States. Today, fewer than 2,500 historic places bear this national distinction. Working with citizens throughput the nation, the National Historic Landmarks Program draws upon the expertise of National Park Service staff who work to nominate new landmarks and provide assistance to existing landmarks. , Network to Freedom , The Network to Freedom is a significant but distinct part of the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program. It’s a diverse collection of elements comprised of historic sites, facilities and programs that have a verifiable association to the Underground Railroad. Individuals and organizations themselves are not eligible for the Network, but rather they can nominate the sites, programs and facilities that they work with. The Network incorporates a broad range of listings that have been nominated and evaluated for their association to the Underground Railroad and have met certain established criteria. , The Underground Railroad Trail, a program of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. , New York State was at the forefront of the Underground Railroad movement. It was a major destination for freedom - seekers for four main reasons: , .Destination and Gateway , New York was a gateway to liberation for freedom - seekers (often referred to as escaped slaves). Its prime location, with access to Canada and major water routes, made in the destination of choice for many African - Americans fleeing slavery along the eastern seaboard. , .Safe Haven , Freedom - seekers know they would be protected in New York’s many block communities as well as Quaker and other progressive white and mixed race communities. A large and vocal free black population was present after the manumission (freeing)of slaves in New York State in 1827. , .Powerful Anti-Slavery Movement , Anti-slavery organizations were abundant in New York State – more than any other state. The reform politics and the progressive nature of the state gave rise to many active anti-slavery organizations. , .Strong Underground Railroad Leaders , Many nationally - known and locally influential black and white abolitionists chose to make their homes to New York. Among them were Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Gerrit Smith, Henry Ward Beecher, Sojouner Truth and John Brown. , .Madison County Freedom Trail , The Madison County Freedom Trail Commission was created by the Madison County Board of Supervisors on September 11, 2001. Using the Wellman Scale, the Commission determined Underground Railroad sites in the county and named sixteen sites to the Madison County Bicentennial Freedom Trail in 2006.