Hello-

I am writing from a non-profit organization called Adventure Cycling Association. Adventure Cycling, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1973, is America’s largest recreational cycling association, with over 41,000 members. Headquartered in Missoula, Mont., the association’s mission is to inspire people of all ages to travel by bicycle. We have created a National Bicycle Route Network, which currently comprises 32,361 miles of mapped routes on scenic, historic back roads of America. In addition to bicycle-route development and mapping, the association’s services include periodical publishing (Adventure Cyclist magazine and The Cyclists’ Yellow Pages resource directory), a guided bike-touring program, and an outreach and education program.

Our next historical route is going to follow one of the corridors of the Underground Railroad.

Our association in collaboration with key groups and constituencies, plans to develop a bicycle route that recognizes the role and path taken by those escaping slavery in the pre-Civil War south - the Underground Railroad. We want to create a route that incorporates some of the key state and national landmarks along the Underground Railroad. As with routes like the Adventure Cycling Association's Lewis and Clark route, users of the Underground Railroad route will have a unique social, historical, and personal experience, as well as enjoying America from the special perspective of bicycle touring. We know that this will be a catalyst in increasing America's awareness of this exceptional piece of history, as well as maintaining and preserving enjoyable cycling opportunities for future generations.

At this point, we are in the very early planning stages and are trying to figure out the best path forward. We have done some preliminary work, including a partnership with the Center for Minority Health at the University of Pittsburgh. CMH and Adventure Cycling share the goal of encouraging people from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds, including African Americans, to explore the landscapes and history of America by bicycle. The organizations created this partnership in recognition of the capacity for bicycle travel to build stronger cross-cultural relationships among our nation’s citizens while promoting lifelong health through a form of physical activity available to people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds.

In addition to identifying the route and developing a set of maps describing it, the goal is to provide the public with an assortment of history- and health-related activities related to the route, including Underground Railroad bicycle tours.

We are looking for historians,educators, curators, etc. that could help us create and gather the most accurate information possible. Could you recommend someone in your (region, area of expertise, organization) that would be a good?

We are leaning toward having the route follow the Drinking Gourd song.

Thank you for your help.
Rachel