What we know as U. S. Route 20 began as Native American trails in the early years of America. Today a traveler along Central New York's U.S. Route 20 will find a landscape little changed since the heyday of the route in the mid 20th Century.

The present highway was largely established between 1797 and 1825 with the successive construction of several turnpikes, the most famous of which connected Albany to Cherry Valley and later extended to Cazenovia and the Syracuse area. The roadway became known as the Cherry Valley Turnpike and was soon dotted with taverns and other amenities for travelers.

The Cherry Valley Turnpike became the property of New York State during the 1860s. State and federal programs began providing funds for road building and management assistance by the turn of the century. Then in 1926, the road became designated as U.S. Route 20.

With the coming of the automobile, the highway had once again taken on a new life. Roadside attractions and tourist cabins provided entertainment and much-needed services to a whole new kind of traveler.

Historic villages with traditional Main Streets surrounded by quiet neighborhoods still give way to the productive fields and tranquil pastures that brought prosperity to the region. From the late Colonial/Turnpike Era's Federal and Greek Revival style buildings to the New World Dutch, English, and gambrel-roof dairy barns to the drive-ins and motor courts of the 1930s-1950s, one can literally track the westward migration of the state and the nation in the buildings and the landscapes previous generations created.

Today the highway still echoes with the spirit of a once lost Americana. Its attractions are more popular than ever and a true sense of community can be found at every turn.     

Traveling on the Route 20 Scenic Byway? You're on your way to a great adventure!