story and photos by Christopher Martin
The Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief docked at the Brockport Welcome Center Tuesday, August 13, as part of a trial run in preparation for the vessel’s planned 2025 Bicentennial Voyage. The sea trial also included stops in Lockport, Medina, and Rochester.
The boat landed in Brockport Tuesday afternoon and tours were provided for local officials and members of the community that stopped by. Interpretive panels were set up, children were taught how to shave paddles, and the history of the boat was shared with those present.
The original Seneca Chief was built some 200 years ago and officially opened the Erie Canal in 1825. This current replica has been under construction by the Buffalo Maritime Center for the past four years in anticipation of the canal’s bicentennial. The community boatbuilding effort was made possible by hundreds of volunteers.
The original boat had no propulsion, and neither does the replica. While the original was towed by mules along the towpath on the side of the canal. today’s replica has a tugboat tied to the side of it, the C. L. Churchill. They also have a Boston Whaler escorting them, which is able to push the Seneca Chief back on track should it veer off course. It has the nickname of “Scooch.”
The crew stopped in Brockport again on August 15 to give tours and enjoy a Summer Serenades concert on their return trip to Buffalo.
On September 24, 2025, the Seneca Chief will embark on its Bicentennial Voyage from Buffalo to New York Harbor, commemorating Governor DeWitt Clinton’s 1825 inaugural journey. The month-long voyage will offer communities across New York State a chance to explore the past and plan for the future. Mark your calendar because the itinerary includes stops in Medina on September 25, Brockport on September 26, and Rochester on September 27, 2025.
For updates, visit http://buffalomaritimecenter.org/events or find them on Facebook or Instagram.
