Buffalo Maritime Center launches Seneca Chief after four years of construction

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Maritime Center launched the artificial Seneca Chief on Tuesday after four years of volunteers building the ship.

The center benefited from the help of more than 200 volunteers who dedicated their time to rebuild the 73-foot-long, 40-ton boat in time for the bicentennial in 2025.

“When you look at everything and everyone, it shows you what a community can do when everyone comes together. And this model project will be showcased across the state next year on the bicentennial,” said Brian Trzeciak, executive director of the Maritime Center.

Trzeciak told 7 News reporter Jaurdyn Johnson that by 2025, Chief Seneca will leave Buffalo and head to New York Harbor to commemorate the bicentennial of Gov. DeWitt Clinton’s maiden voyage in 1825.

The center hopes to use the boat as a holistic way to tell the story of the Erie Canal.

The boat will be hosted at Commercial Slip at Canalside for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 25.

You can learn more about Chef Seneca here.