|
Bound on the east by the Berkshire Hills and on the west by the Taconic Range, the Housatonic River gives the western Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut region life. In 2006, 29 communities in the region were designated as the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area.
The area was created to heighten appreciation of the region, preserve its natural and historic resources, improve the local economy and quality of life, control undesirable growth and promote the cleanup of the Housatonic River. The designation creates a federal-local partnership to help preserve the region’s natural resources, cultural heritage and recreational opportunities, which are vast.
The area is in early development phases, but there are maps that showcase state parks, hiking, biking and scenic opportunities. A portion of the Appalachian Trail weaves through the area, offering day hikers and long-term hikers great opportunities. There are also great day hikes and paddling opportunities on area lakes and the Housatonic.
The first stirrings of the American Revolution emerged here and during the fight for freedom from British rule, the furnaces of Salisbury provided vital iron for weapons and armaments. In the decades following the war, discomfited farmers took part in Shays’ Rebellion and influenced the writing of the Constitution.
What has largely gone unrecognized is a rich history of African-Americans who played pivotal roles in key national and international events and made significant contributions to the country. They spent their lives defining the tenets of freedom and democracy, hoping to claim the inalienable rights the founding fathers deemed self-evident.
The Upper Housatonic Valley African American Heritage Trail, part of the heritage area, brings attention to the many African-Americans who served in the Revolutionary War and helped pioneer the fight against slavery. In the Civil War, more African-Americans from the region enlisted in the famed 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment than from anywhere else in the state.
In modern times, the region produced many significant African-Americans, including Lenox-born photographer of the Harlem Renaissance, James VanDerZee; NAACP leaders such as Mary White Ovington; composer of the "Negro National Anthem" James Weldon Johnson of Great Barrington; and Williamstown native Frank Grant of professional baseball.
The loudest voice for African American equality still resonates today. W.E.B. DuBois of Great Barrington, the father of the modern civil rights movement, single-handedly awakened America’s understanding of the Reconstruction period and the meaning of freedom for everyone. Along with others, he challenged and clarified what it means to be an American.
A map of the African American Heritage Trail is available.
Outdoor Activities |
