New York State Route 97
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 97 (NY 97) is a 70.53 miles (113.51 km) north–south scenic route in southern New York
, United States
. It runs from U.S. Route 6 and US 209 in Port Jervis
to NY 17
in Hancock
. Its most famous feature is the Hawk's Nest
, a tightly winding section of the road along the Delaware River
, located a few miles north of Port Jervis
. NY 97 intersects NY 52
in Narrowsburg
and indirectly connects to three Pennsylvania
state highways due to its proximity to the state line.
The New York State Legislature created Route 3-a, an unsigned legislative route
extending from Port Jervis to Hancock along the Delaware River, in 1911. Initially, it was a route in name only as the portion north of Port Jervis had yet to be built. Several parts of the route were constructed during the 1920s, and by the time the NY 97 designation was created as part of the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, only two sections were still unconstructed. The entirety of the highway officially opened on August 30, 1939, capping a construction project that cost $4 million (equivalent to $ in ) to complete.
NY 97 began in the Port Jervis and ended in Callicoon
when it was assigned in 1930. At that time, the remainder of modern NY 97 was part of NY 17B
. NY 97 was extended north to Hancock in 1939, overlapping NY 17B. The latter route was truncated to Callicoon in the 1960s. It is also shared with New York State Bicycle Route 17, except between NY 17 and NY 268.
, at an intersection in Port Jervis
where Park Avenue reaches US 6
and US 209. NY 42 and 97 within the city of Port Jervis is maintained by the city. After passing through a residential neighborhood, the road climbs a nearby hillside and offers some stunning views back over the city, then leaves it. The road here runs right next to the active Central New York Railroad
.
A few miles further on, the two routes split at the hamlet of Sparrow Bush
. After passing through a wooded area and climbing some more, the road opens on to its most scenic portion, Hawk's Nest
.
Here 97 perches on steep and stony cliffs, following a narrow, twisty course. Picturesque stone fencing prevents cars from falling into the river a hundred feet (30 m) below, and there are frequent overlooks to take in the view and, on nice summer days, the kayak
ers and rafters. It has been used in commercials for BMW
, Honda
, Mercedes-Benz
, Saab
and Cadillac
models, as well as by American Express
. Car and motorcycle
enthusiasts, and more recently bicyclists
and even skateboard
ers, have been drawn to the Hawk's Nest's combination of scenic beauty and challenge for many years.
Once past the Hawk's Nest, 97 again returns to river level as it crosses the Mongaup River and enters Sullivan County
.
crosses the highway on its way into Pennsylvania
where it becomes that state's Route 434.
Continuing on past land mostly undeveloped as part of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
, 97 passes more small hamlets. Shortly after Minisink Ford and the restored Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct
, the river turns northward again and so does 97. However, the highway strikes a course more inland, with more than a mile separating it from the river at Luxton Lake. The NY 52
junction heralds a return to the river route, however, and shortly thereafter 97 comes upon Narrowsburg
, the largest community it will pass through between its termini (while still small). A bridge leads across to Darbytown and PA 652
.
Having returned to the side of the Delaware, 97 hugs it closely up to Cochecton, where the old Newburgh-Cochecton Turnpike once reached the river and a bridge gives access to Damascus and PA 371
. 97 goes on to Callicoon
and its last state highway junction in Sullivan County, NY 17B
. It avoids a bend in the river north of the quiet hamlet by heading more to the north, then rejoins the river past Hankins and Long Eddy until it reaches the Delaware County
line.
and gentle climbs. A few miles south of Hancock
, 97 returns to the river and follows it past the confluence of its east
and west
branches and then enters the village. There, it collects PA 191
and ends at a junction with NY 17
. The highway continues north as Delaware County Route 67 (Sands Creek Road) to end at NY 10
.
corridor had been linked by a road along the cliffs overlooking the river since at least 1851. However, when the plans for a new highway through the corridor were initially drawn up, it was to bypass what became the Hawk's Nest
in favor of a shoreline route. However, the Erie Railroad
refused to sell the necessary right-of-way
, forcing the state to construct the improved road along the cliffside instead.
In 1911, the New York State Legislature created Route 3-a, an unsigned legislative route
extending from the Pennsylvania state line at Port Jervis
to Route 4 (later NY 17
) in Hancock
along the Delaware River
. Very little of this highway actually existed in reality; by 1920, only 3.69 miles (5.94 km) of the 62.27 miles (100.21 km) long route had been built. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, the segment of former Route 3-a from Port Jervis to Callicoon
was designated as NY 97, even though two sections of the route—between NY 42
at Sparrow Bush and Mongaup and from Pond Eddy to near the hamlet of Tusten—were still incomplete. The remainder of old Route 3-a north of Callicoon, which was fully constructed by 1930, became part of NY 17B
. In 1932, then-Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt
signed legislation designating NY 97 as the "Upper Delaware Scenic Byway".
On August 30, 1939, the entirety of NY 97 was officially opened to traffic. Several events were held to mark the road's opening, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Port Jervis featuring the mayors of Port Jervis and Hancock and a motorcade procession that traveled the length of the highway. In all, it cost $4 million (equivalent to $ in ) to build NY 97. The portion through the Hawk's Nest cost $2 million (equivalent to $ in ) to construct. Following the road's completion, NY 97 was extended north to Hancock, overlapping NY 17B. The overlap was eliminated in the mid-1960s when NY 17B was truncated to Callicoon.
Near Cochecton, a historical marker points out that Route 97 passes the rock claimed by New Jersey colonists as the western end of the colony's northern border during the New York - New Jersey Line War in the 18th century. About a quarter of the route follows the old Delaware and Hudson Canal
.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It runs from U.S. Route 6 and US 209 in Port Jervis
Port Jervis, New York
Port Jervis is a city on the Delaware River in western Orange County, New York, with a population of 8,860 at the 2000 census. The communities of Deerpark, Huguenot, Sparrowbush, and Greenville are adjacent to Port Jervis, and the towns of Montague, New Jersey and Matamoras, Pennsylvania face the...
to NY 17
New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 is a state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States...
in Hancock
Hancock (village), New York
Hancock is a village in Delaware County, New York, United States. The population was 1,189 at the 2000 census.The Village of Hancock is in the west part of the Town of Hancock at the junction of NY Routes 17 and 97....
. Its most famous feature is the Hawk's Nest
Hawk's Nest, New York
Hawk's Nest is a scenic location outside Port Jervis, New York. Its name is derived from the birds of prey that nest in the area. The location is also known for its winding roads and scenic overlooks in the Delaware River valley....
, a tightly winding section of the road along the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
, located a few miles north of Port Jervis
Port Jervis, New York
Port Jervis is a city on the Delaware River in western Orange County, New York, with a population of 8,860 at the 2000 census. The communities of Deerpark, Huguenot, Sparrowbush, and Greenville are adjacent to Port Jervis, and the towns of Montague, New Jersey and Matamoras, Pennsylvania face the...
. NY 97 intersects NY 52
New York State Route 52
New York State Route 52 is a long state highway in the southeastern part of New York in the United States. It generally runs from west to east, beginning at the Pennsylvania state line in the Delaware River near Narrowsburg, crossing the Hudson River on the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, and ending...
in Narrowsburg
Narrowsburg, New York
Narrowsburg is a hamlet in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 414 at the 2000 census.Narrowsburg is in the western part of the Town of Tusten at the junction of Routes 52 and 97...
and indirectly connects to three Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
state highways due to its proximity to the state line.
The New York State Legislature created Route 3-a, an unsigned legislative route
Legislative route
In United States, a legislative route or legislative highway is a highway defined by laws passed in a state legislature. The numbering of such highways may or may not correspond to the numbers familiar to the public as part of the state, U.S. highway, and Interstate highway systems...
extending from Port Jervis to Hancock along the Delaware River, in 1911. Initially, it was a route in name only as the portion north of Port Jervis had yet to be built. Several parts of the route were constructed during the 1920s, and by the time the NY 97 designation was created as part of the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, only two sections were still unconstructed. The entirety of the highway officially opened on August 30, 1939, capping a construction project that cost $4 million (equivalent to $ in ) to complete.
NY 97 began in the Port Jervis and ended in Callicoon
Callicoon (CDP), New York
Callicoon is a hamlet and census-designated place in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 216 at the 2000 census.Callicoon is in the western part of the county in the Town of Delaware.-History:...
when it was assigned in 1930. At that time, the remainder of modern NY 97 was part of NY 17B
New York State Route 17B
New York State Route 17B is a state highway located entirely within Sullivan County, New York. It connects the hamlet of Callicoon at its western end with the Monticello area in the east .-Route description:From its terminus at NY 97 in the hamlet of Callicoon New York State...
. NY 97 was extended north to Hancock in 1939, overlapping NY 17B. The latter route was truncated to Callicoon in the 1960s. It is also shared with New York State Bicycle Route 17, except between NY 17 and NY 268.
Orange County
Route 97 begins, along with NY 42New York State Route 42
New York State Route 42 is a north–south, discontinuous state highway in the Catskill Mountains region of New York in the United States. The southernmost of the highway's two segments begins at an intersection with U.S. Route 6 and US 209 in Port Jervis and ends at a junction with...
, at an intersection in Port Jervis
Port Jervis, New York
Port Jervis is a city on the Delaware River in western Orange County, New York, with a population of 8,860 at the 2000 census. The communities of Deerpark, Huguenot, Sparrowbush, and Greenville are adjacent to Port Jervis, and the towns of Montague, New Jersey and Matamoras, Pennsylvania face the...
where Park Avenue reaches US 6
U.S. Route 6 in New York
U.S. Route 6 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Bishop, California, to Provincetown, Massachusetts. In New York, US 6 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Port Jervis to the Connecticut state line east of Brewster...
and US 209. NY 42 and 97 within the city of Port Jervis is maintained by the city. After passing through a residential neighborhood, the road climbs a nearby hillside and offers some stunning views back over the city, then leaves it. The road here runs right next to the active Central New York Railroad
Central New York Railroad
The Central New York Railroad is a short line railroad operating local freight service along the ex-Erie Railroad Southern Tier Line in the U.S states of New York and Pennsylvania. The line begins at Port Jervis, following the West Branch Delaware River to Deposit and the Susquehanna River from...
.
Deer Park, New York
Deer Park is a hamlet and census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 27,745 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. After passing through a wooded area and climbing some more, the road opens on to its most scenic portion, Hawk's Nest
Hawk's Nest, New York
Hawk's Nest is a scenic location outside Port Jervis, New York. Its name is derived from the birds of prey that nest in the area. The location is also known for its winding roads and scenic overlooks in the Delaware River valley....
.
Here 97 perches on steep and stony cliffs, following a narrow, twisty course. Picturesque stone fencing prevents cars from falling into the river a hundred feet (30 m) below, and there are frequent overlooks to take in the view and, on nice summer days, the kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
ers and rafters. It has been used in commercials for BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
, Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
, Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
, Saab
Saab
Saab AB is a Swedish aerospace and defence company, founded in 1937. From 1947 to 1990 it was the parent company of automobile manufacturer Saab Automobile, and between 1968 and 1995 the company was in a merger with commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania, known as Saab-Scania.-History:"Svenska...
and Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
models, as well as by American Express
American Express
American Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
. Car and motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
enthusiasts, and more recently bicyclists
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
and even skateboard
Skateboard
A skateboard is typically a specially designed plywood board combined with a polyurethane coating used for making smoother slides and stronger durability, used primarily for the activity of skateboarding. The first skateboards to reach public notice came out of the surfing craze of the early 1960s,...
ers, have been drawn to the Hawk's Nest's combination of scenic beauty and challenge for many years.
Once past the Hawk's Nest, 97 again returns to river level as it crosses the Mongaup River and enters Sullivan County
Sullivan County, New York
Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 77,547. The county seat is Monticello. The name is in honor of Major General John Sullivan, who was a hero in the American Revolutionary War...
.
Sullivan County
Here the road runs more east–west, as does the river. Highway and the railroad tracks are never far away as 97 winds past several small hamlets that grew up around the railroad. In the slightly larger hamlet of Barryville, 97 meets its first state highway since Sparrow Bush as NY 55New York State Route 55
New York State Route 55 is a state highway in southern New York, running from the Pennsylvania state line at the Delaware River in Barryville to the Connecticut state line at Wingdale...
crosses the highway on its way into Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
where it becomes that state's Route 434.
Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
The Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River is located near Narrowsburg, New York, and Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River. It includes parts of five counties along this section of the river: Delaware, Orange, and Sullivan in New York, and Pike and Wayne in Pennsylvania.The site...
, 97 passes more small hamlets. Shortly after Minisink Ford and the restored Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct
Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct
-External links:...
, the river turns northward again and so does 97. However, the highway strikes a course more inland, with more than a mile separating it from the river at Luxton Lake. The NY 52
New York State Route 52
New York State Route 52 is a long state highway in the southeastern part of New York in the United States. It generally runs from west to east, beginning at the Pennsylvania state line in the Delaware River near Narrowsburg, crossing the Hudson River on the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, and ending...
junction heralds a return to the river route, however, and shortly thereafter 97 comes upon Narrowsburg
Narrowsburg, New York
Narrowsburg is a hamlet in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 414 at the 2000 census.Narrowsburg is in the western part of the Town of Tusten at the junction of Routes 52 and 97...
, the largest community it will pass through between its termini (while still small). A bridge leads across to Darbytown and PA 652
Pennsylvania Route 652
Pennsylvania Route 652, designated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation as State Route 0652, is a long east–west state highway located in the northeast Pennsylvania county of Wayne. The western terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 6 in the Texas Township community of Indian...
.
Having returned to the side of the Delaware, 97 hugs it closely up to Cochecton, where the old Newburgh-Cochecton Turnpike once reached the river and a bridge gives access to Damascus and PA 371
Pennsylvania Route 371
Pennsylvania Route 371 is a 23.45-mile long state highway located in Susquehanna and Wayne Counties. The western terminus is at Route 171 / Route 374 near the community of Union Dale in Herrick Center...
. 97 goes on to Callicoon
Callicoon (CDP), New York
Callicoon is a hamlet and census-designated place in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 216 at the 2000 census.Callicoon is in the western part of the county in the Town of Delaware.-History:...
and its last state highway junction in Sullivan County, NY 17B
New York State Route 17B
New York State Route 17B is a state highway located entirely within Sullivan County, New York. It connects the hamlet of Callicoon at its western end with the Monticello area in the east .-Route description:From its terminus at NY 97 in the hamlet of Callicoon New York State...
. It avoids a bend in the river north of the quiet hamlet by heading more to the north, then rejoins the river past Hankins and Long Eddy until it reaches the Delaware County
Delaware County, New York
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of 2010 the population was 47,980. The county seat is Delhi. It is named after the Delaware River, which was named in honor of Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, appointed governor of Virginia in 1609.-History:When counties...
line.
Delaware County
In Delaware 97 again moves away from the river and finds some stretches more like other state highways and less like a river road, with long straightaways, wide turns, good pavementPavement (material)
Road surface or pavement is the durable surface material laid down on an area intended to sustain vehicular or foot traffic, such as a road or walkway. In the past cobblestones and granite setts were extensively used, but these surfaces have mostly been replaced by asphalt or concrete. Such...
and gentle climbs. A few miles south of Hancock
Hancock (village), New York
Hancock is a village in Delaware County, New York, United States. The population was 1,189 at the 2000 census.The Village of Hancock is in the west part of the Town of Hancock at the junction of NY Routes 17 and 97....
, 97 returns to the river and follows it past the confluence of its east
East Branch Delaware River
The East Branch Delaware River, approximately 75 miles long in the U.S. state of New York, is one of two branches, along with the West Branch, that join to form the Delaware River. It flows through a mountainous area on the southwestern edge of the Catskill Park. For a long stretch it serves...
and west
West Branch Delaware River
The West Branch Delaware River, approximately 90 mi long in the U.S. states of New York and Pennsylvania, is one of the two branches, along with the East Branch, that join to form the Delaware River...
branches and then enters the village. There, it collects PA 191
Pennsylvania Route 191
Pennsylvania Route 191 is a -long state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The route, a major non-freeway corridor connecting the Lehigh Valley to The Poconos in eastern Pennsylvania, is designated from U.S...
and ends at a junction with NY 17
New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 is a state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States...
. The highway continues north as Delaware County Route 67 (Sands Creek Road) to end at NY 10
New York State Route 10
New York State Route 10 is a north–south state highway in the Central New York and North Country regions of New York in the United States. It extends for from the Quickway in Deposit, Delaware County to NY 8 at Higgins Bay, a hamlet in the Hamilton County town of Arietta...
.
History
The Delaware RiverDelaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
corridor had been linked by a road along the cliffs overlooking the river since at least 1851. However, when the plans for a new highway through the corridor were initially drawn up, it was to bypass what became the Hawk's Nest
Hawk's Nest, New York
Hawk's Nest is a scenic location outside Port Jervis, New York. Its name is derived from the birds of prey that nest in the area. The location is also known for its winding roads and scenic overlooks in the Delaware River valley....
in favor of a shoreline route. However, the Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
refused to sell the necessary right-of-way
Right-of-way (railroad)
A right-of-way is a strip of land that is granted, through an easement or other mechanism, for transportation purposes, such as for a trail, driveway, rail line or highway. A right-of-way is reserved for the purposes of maintenance or expansion of existing services with the right-of-way...
, forcing the state to construct the improved road along the cliffside instead.
In 1911, the New York State Legislature created Route 3-a, an unsigned legislative route
Legislative route
In United States, a legislative route or legislative highway is a highway defined by laws passed in a state legislature. The numbering of such highways may or may not correspond to the numbers familiar to the public as part of the state, U.S. highway, and Interstate highway systems...
extending from the Pennsylvania state line at Port Jervis
Port Jervis, New York
Port Jervis is a city on the Delaware River in western Orange County, New York, with a population of 8,860 at the 2000 census. The communities of Deerpark, Huguenot, Sparrowbush, and Greenville are adjacent to Port Jervis, and the towns of Montague, New Jersey and Matamoras, Pennsylvania face the...
to Route 4 (later NY 17
New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 is a state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States...
) in Hancock
Hancock (village), New York
Hancock is a village in Delaware County, New York, United States. The population was 1,189 at the 2000 census.The Village of Hancock is in the west part of the Town of Hancock at the junction of NY Routes 17 and 97....
along the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
. Very little of this highway actually existed in reality; by 1920, only 3.69 miles (5.94 km) of the 62.27 miles (100.21 km) long route had been built. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, the segment of former Route 3-a from Port Jervis to Callicoon
Callicoon (CDP), New York
Callicoon is a hamlet and census-designated place in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 216 at the 2000 census.Callicoon is in the western part of the county in the Town of Delaware.-History:...
was designated as NY 97, even though two sections of the route—between NY 42
New York State Route 42
New York State Route 42 is a north–south, discontinuous state highway in the Catskill Mountains region of New York in the United States. The southernmost of the highway's two segments begins at an intersection with U.S. Route 6 and US 209 in Port Jervis and ends at a junction with...
at Sparrow Bush and Mongaup and from Pond Eddy to near the hamlet of Tusten—were still incomplete. The remainder of old Route 3-a north of Callicoon, which was fully constructed by 1930, became part of NY 17B
New York State Route 17B
New York State Route 17B is a state highway located entirely within Sullivan County, New York. It connects the hamlet of Callicoon at its western end with the Monticello area in the east .-Route description:From its terminus at NY 97 in the hamlet of Callicoon New York State...
. In 1932, then-Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
signed legislation designating NY 97 as the "Upper Delaware Scenic Byway".
On August 30, 1939, the entirety of NY 97 was officially opened to traffic. Several events were held to mark the road's opening, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Port Jervis featuring the mayors of Port Jervis and Hancock and a motorcade procession that traveled the length of the highway. In all, it cost $4 million (equivalent to $ in ) to build NY 97. The portion through the Hawk's Nest cost $2 million (equivalent to $ in ) to construct. Following the road's completion, NY 97 was extended north to Hancock, overlapping NY 17B. The overlap was eliminated in the mid-1960s when NY 17B was truncated to Callicoon.
Near Cochecton, a historical marker points out that Route 97 passes the rock claimed by New Jersey colonists as the western end of the colony's northern border during the New York - New Jersey Line War in the 18th century. About a quarter of the route follows the old Delaware and Hudson Canal
Delaware and Hudson Canal
The Delaware and Hudson Canal was the first venture of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, which later developed the Delaware and Hudson Railway...
.