THE NATIONAL ABOLITION HALL of Fame & Museum
Join us for the 4th Annual
Check back soon for registration info and details
Save the date!
Abolition Walk
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Walk with us and trace a portion of the footsteps of 104 brave souls who escaped an angry mob of anti-abolitionists in Utica in 1835, embarked on an Erie Canal barge to Canastota, and climbed the trail to Peterboro where they formed the New York State Antislavery Society. Learn more...
The Walk is from Canastota to Clockville and back (5.4 miles - 2 hrs). Map & schedule...
Why we walk
When a group New York abolitionists convened in Utica to form the New York State Antislavery Society in 1835, they were disrupted by an angry mob of anti-abolitionists. Gerrit Smith stepped forward and invited the delegates to "Come to Peterboro" to resume the meeting.
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This historic event motivated Gerrit Smith to devote himself to the abolitionist cause, making Central New York the heart of the abolitionist movement in America, a safe haven for persons escaping slavery, and a respite for influential reformers in our region during the decades leading up to the civil war.
Thank you to our sponsors
Route & Schedule ~ 2024
We walk from Canastota to Clockville and back (5.4 miles - 2 hrs), then gather in Canastota for an after party. Check back here for the latest news and updates to the schedule.
ABOLITION ALE
custom brewed by
ERIE CANAL BREWING COMPANY
135 S. Peterboro Street
Canastota NY 13032
315.875.3030
Transportation
A limited number of bus seats are available for the roundtrip between Canastota and Clockville. Opt for the Bus Ride at checkout.
Mission
Our goal is to celebrate unity in Central New York and shine a light on a largely unrecognized, pivotal moment in the history of the abolitionist movement. We seek broad participation to make this dramatic local history a source of pride and inspiration for freedom-loving people everywhere.
Abolition Road is funded, in part, through the generous support of the
New York State Canal Corporation and
Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.
Proceeds from the Abolition Walk will benefit the National Abolition Hall of Fame & Museum in Peterboro, NY and the Canal Town Museum in Canastota, NY