On the morning of Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Buffalo Maritime Center’s replica of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief will embark on its Bicentennial Voyage, commemorating Governor DeWitt Clinton’s historic 1825 journey from Buffalo to New York Harbor.
A Buffalo Maritime Center crew, comprised of staff and volunteers, will navigate the 33-day voyage, departing from Buffalo’s Commercial Slip – the western terminus of the Erie Canal – and traveling to Pier 26 in New York City.
Along the way, the boat will dock at 28 ports along the Erie Canal and Hudson River before reaching New York City for the official commemoration of the canal’s opening – 200 years after Governor Clinton’s inaugural trip.
Area stops are:
•Medina – Thursday, September 25, Medina Canal Basin
•Brockport – Friday, September 26, Harvester Park, 11 Water Street
•Rochester – Saturday, September 27, Corn Hill Navigation, 260 Exchange Boulevard
•Fairport – Sunday and Monday, September 28 and 29 – Erie Canal at the Box Factory, 6 North Main Street
Each stop features educational programs designed to deepen understanding of the Erie Canal’s history, craftsmanship, and environmental impact.
Exhibit displays and hands-on activities on the shoreline will introduce visitors to the Erie Canal Boat Project and the Buffalo Maritime Center, woodworking skills, natural resources, and environmental impact.
Guided by docents, visitors will board the boat to learn about boatbuilding across time and cultures, the role of the original boat in the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, and the people and goods it carried.
Along the voyage, Eastern White Pine trees will be planted at each port stop as a tribute to the Haudenosaunee, honoring their enduring connection to the land and reinforcing a shared commitment to sustainability.
Community members will be invited to contribute water from their section of the Erie Canal to a barrel carried aboard the Seneca Chief. Upon reaching New York City, the barrel will be used to water the final tree, symbolically uniting the waters of New York State in a powerful act of remembrance, connection, and renewal.
For a comprehensive look at the Seneca Chief and its Bicentennial Voyage, visit https://buffalomaritimecenter.org.
Provided information
