The Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway story celebrates the history, heritage, and natural beauty of an important regional travel route. The Mohawk Trail is steeped in regional and local history and provides a backdrop for the region's broader history. The route is a significant east-west travel route in northwestern Massachusetts. It follows the walking route used by Native Americans to travel between the Hudson River and Connecticut River Valleys. Native Americans occupied the area approximately 12,000 years ago after the retreat of the last glacial ice sheets. Later, the European settlers used the route and eventually upgraded it to support travel by horse and cart. As the use of automobiles increased, the route became more popular, and the road was improved for vehicles.
The Mohawk Trail is historically significant as a Scenic Byway because it was one of the first to be constructed as a scenic auto touring route in the early years of car travel. It was approved by the Massachusetts Highway Commission for construction in 1912 and completed in 1914. The completed highway was officially dedicated at a ceremony at Whitcomb Summit on October 22, 1914, with a crowd of approximately 1,800 people in attendance. This commissioned section of construction included the 13 miles from the base of Hoosac Mountain in North Adams to the Deerfield River in Charlemont, including the Hairpin Turn in North Adams and over Whitcomb Summit in Florida. To the east, the original route followed local roads along the Deerfield River Valley. The road was an instant hit as an automobile touring route, and within a few years, souvenir shops, overnight cabins, restaurants, and gas stations were established. The road became a popular destination for travelers during the early auto touring days of the 1920s and 1930s, and its popularity increased as automobiles became more common.
From 1919 to 1929, many improvements and upgrades were made to the entire route from North Adams to Greenfield. During the early years of the Mohawk Trail, the road was shoveled by hand and often remained closed for long periods during inclement weather. In the mid-1930s, the State assumed the responsibility for winter upkeep and began to maintain the road year-round. It was one of the earliest Scenic Byways in New England when it received its official designation by the Massachusetts Legislature in 1953. The Mohawk Trail remains a popular route for travelers and particularly during the fall foliage season.
Byway travelers experience scenery and sites from all periods of history. There are historic villages, structures, and sites along the route that provide insights into the Byway and broader regional history. The Byway travels through some of the most beautiful scenic areas in Massachusetts. Stretches of the Mohawk Trail follow the Millers, Deerfield, Cold, and Hoosic Rivers. A significant section parallels the Mahican-Mohawk Trail, a former Native American trail linking the Hudson and Connecticut River Valleys. This original walking route is currently being reestablished as a recreational trail in Franklin and Berkshire counties.
The corridor also retains the feel of the auto-touring era. Although many of the original businesses are no longer operating, there are sites and resources along the route that highlight the rich history of the auto-touring era. Vestiges remain of the roadside cabins, motels, souvenir shops, restaurants, and fueling stations on the route. In addition to these reminders of the auto touring days on the Byway, the Mohawk Trail travels through and near towns and villages that grew during the industrial revolution and have retained the character of this important heritage. It travels through a landscape of distinct natural beauty on the way from the broader Connecticut River Valley to the Berkshire Mountains in the northwestern corner of Massachusetts. The Byway corridor is rich in natural, historic, and cultural resources that provide the Byway traveler with an enriching experience. The rural character of the region and natural features are prominent along the Mohawk Trail today. The corridor is especially rich in natural resources, which attract visitors to the abundance of outdoor recreation.