Dedication of Erie Canal Boat ‘Seneca Chief’ Celebrates New Era in Buffalo’s Maritime History

(Press release and photos from Buffalo Maritime Center)

Tue May 21, 2024 12:55 p.m.

Unveiling of historic ship marks culmination of years of dedication and craftsmanship

Press release and photos from the Buffalo Maritime Center

The Buffalo Maritime Center is proud to announce the official dedication of the Erie Canal Boat “Seneca Chief,” a milestone marking the culmination of years of dedication, craftsmanship and completion of the boat.

Join us at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 25 at Commercial Slip at Canalside (44 Prime St., Buffalo), as we celebrate the unveiling of this historic ship and usher in a new era for Buffalo’s maritime heritage.

The grand opening event will be a free, family-friendly celebration featuring music from the Greater Buffalo Firefighters Pipe and Drum Band, alongside esteemed guests and representatives from local and state officials, including indigenous scholar Joe Stahlman; Bonnie Kane Lockwood, Western New York director representing Governor Kathy Hochul; and Brian Stratton, director of the New York State Canal Corp., among others.

The Erie Canal Boat “Seneca Chief” has significant historical significance as the first boat to open the Erie Canal almost 200 years ago. Built over the course of four years inside the Longshed at Canalside, this remarkable boat building project involved hundreds of dedicated volunteers and students, each playing a vital role in its restoration.

“This project marks just the beginning of our efforts to expand the Erie Canal narrative and foster connections within our community across the state as we approach the bicentennial commemoration in 2025,” said Brian Trzeciak, executive director of the Buffalo Maritime Center.

(Press release and photos from Buffalo Maritime Center)

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Click here for facts and resources about the project, including a list of speakers at the May 25 grand opening. For a list of upcoming appearances and sea trials, visit the Erie Canal Boat “Seneca Chief” page of the BMC website. For an overview of the 2025 Bicentennial trip, including a timeline and an itinerary of 28 stops across New York State, click here.

In partnership with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, the New York State Canal Corp. and the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp., the Buffalo Maritime Center expresses its gratitude to the David & Joan Rogers Family Foundation for its generous support of the Erie Canal. “Seneca Chief” community boat building project.

Learn more about the Buffalo Maritime Center

The Buffalo Maritime Center inspires meaningful connections and life lessons through community boat building, preserving maritime culture, and exploring the waterways of Western New York. Launched in 2010 – formerly known as the Center for Watercraft Studies at Buffalo State College – the nonprofit organization is the focal point of the maritime culture renaissance that has earned Buffalo its identity as the “Queen City of the Great Lakes.” Visit BuffaloMaritimeCenter.org to learn more about BMC’s educational programs, boat building projects and the organization’s dedication to building community. To find out what’s new and what’s next at BMC, connect on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and join the mailing list.