Introduction
The area is characterized by its natural and scenic landscape. This theme emphasizes the sense of place the land evokes. The conservation movement focuses on the land and on pre-colonial Native American heritage. Responsible land use has its roots in this area. Nurtured by fertile valleys, plentiful lakes and rivers, ringed by monadnocks, the Native American developed a philosophy about nature as a single whole of which man is only a part. Resources include: geological sites, special natural features, areas of old-growth forest, significant viewsheds, cultivated river valleys, native village sites, and old footpaths. Even modern patterns of settlement reflect the shape of the land and the nature of the climate: farmlands, conservation areas, greenways, important waterways, water sources, trails, and bikeways. The products of the land also reflect a regional character: local clay produced brick, and slate was quarried for headstones. Later, granite replaced slate for headstones, and it, too, became a building block for major edifices.
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| The Freedom's Way Heritage Area is characterized by its natural and scenic landscape. Photo courtesy of Howard Simpson. |
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| Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1947 to provide nesting, resting, and feeding habitat for migratory birds. |