Horticulturist Rebecca McElheny will identify the trees, plants, soil, ecosystems, depressions, and many other aspects of the landscape of the historic property well known for its Underground Railroad and abolition history. The walk will include explanations of plant cycles, among bushes and shrubs, along the stone walls that channel the Oneida Creek, under trees that survive from Gerrit Smith's day, and stand before the awesome yew. Walkers may appreciate that they are stepping in the very places that frequent 19th C. guests such as John Brown, Frederick Douglass, Henry Highland Garnet, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Harriet Tubman strolled during their stays in Peterboro. Docents for the Estate will accompany the tour to briefly comment on the 19th history and the structures as they relate to the landscape.

 McElheny has a B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture from Delaware Valley University in Doylestown PA. She interned at Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia PA, and worked on native plant propagation in Pipersville PA. Becky describes herself as a “lover of plants and all parts of their life cycles.” She now lives with many plants and animals in Madison County.

 The Underground Railroad and Black Americans in Peterboro exhibits will also be open in two of the buildings.  

The Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark is open dawn to dusk every day for those who respect the property and current COVID protocol. 

The Gerrit Smith Estate is a National Historic Landmark, and is on the National Park Service Network to Freedom (National Underground Railroad), the New York State Underground Railroad Heritage Trail, and the Madison County Freedom Trail.