NEWSLETTER
From Buffalo to New York City, the ‘Seneca Chief’ will travel 500 miles over 33 days, stopping at 28 ports to commemorate the Erie Canal and connect communities.
With generous support from M&T Bank, the Bicentennial Voyage provides a unique opportunity for New Yorkers to experience the canal’s rich history.
Buffalo, N.Y. (August 7, 2025) – To mark the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal’s opening, the Buffalo Maritime Center (BMC) has built a full-scale replica of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief – the vessel that first journeyed from Buffalo to New York City to mark the canal’s completion. Constructed by nearly 200 volunteers and students between October 2020 and its launch in June 2024, the wooden boat was handcrafted in full public view inside the Longshed at Canalside on Buffalo’s waterfront.This extraordinary community boatbuilding effort stands as the largest project of its kind, making the Seneca Chief not only a historic replica but a powerful symbol of craftsmanship, collaboration, and Buffalo’s enduring maritime legacy.
On Wednesday, September 24, 2025, the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief will embark on the Bicentennial Voyage – a 33-day journey commemorating Governor DeWitt Clinton’s historic trip in 1825. Traveling 500 miles along the Erie Canal and Hudson River, the Seneca Chief will visit 28 communities across New York State, concluding with a grand arrival at Pier 26 in New York City – exactly 200 years after the original voyage began. The full itinerary is as follows:
Buffalo – Wednesday, Sept. 24
Lockport – Wednesday, Sept. 24
Medina – Thursday, Sept. 25
Brockport – Friday, Sept. 26
Rochester – Saturday, Sept. 27
Fairport – Sunday & Monday, Sept. 28–29
Newark – Tuesday, Sept. 30
Lyons – Wednesday, Oct. 1
Clyde – Thursday, Oct. 2
Baldwinsville – Friday, Oct. 3
Syracuse – Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 4–5
Brewerton – Monday, Oct. 6
Sylvan Beach – Tuesday, Oct. 7
Rome – Wednesday, Oct. 8
Utica – Thursday, Oct. 9
Herkimer – Friday, Oct. 10
Little Falls – Saturday, Oct. 11
Canajoharie – Sunday, Oct. 12
Amsterdam – Monday, Oct. 13
Schenectady – Tuesday, Oct. 14
Waterford – Wednesday & Thursday, Oct. 15–16
Troy – Friday & Saturday, Oct. 17–18
Albany – Sunday, Oct. 19
Hudson – Monday, Oct. 20
Kingston – Tuesday & Wednesday, Oct. 21–22
Cornwall-on-Hudson – Thursday, Oct. 23
Ossining – Friday, Oct. 24
New York City – Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 25–26
At each port, Buffalo Maritime Center will offer free, family-friendly experiences – including special events, educational programs, and hands-on activities – that invite people of all ages to engage with the legacy of the Erie Canal, sparking both local and statewide reflection on the canal’s enduring impact.
While docked, the Seneca Chief transforms into a floating museum, welcoming visitors aboard to explore recreated cabins, historical artifacts, and interactive exhibits that highlight the canal’s cultural, economic, and environmental significance – including the contributions of Indigenous communities.
“This voyage is about more than retracing history – it’s about reexamining it,” said Buffalo Maritime Center Executive Director Brian Trzeciak. “The Erie Canal was a powerful force for change, but that change came at a cost. As we honor the 200th anniversary of its opening, we’re committed to telling a more holistic story – one that commemorates the remarkable achievement of the canal’s creation, but also acknowledges its environmental and cultural impact on the Haudenosaunee and others. The ceremonies along the route are our way of creating a new tradition. Each stop offers a chance for communities to engage with the past and contribute to a shared future.”
Local dignitaries and community members will gather for meaningful ceremonies that embody both celebration and remembrance. Eastern White Pine trees – referred to as the Great Tree of Peace in Haudenosaunee culture – will be planted at each stop to honor the Haudenosaunee, promote sustainability, and commemorate the Bicentennial. In a modern echo of the 1825 “Wedding of the Waters” ceremony, communities will contribute local canal water to a barrel aboard the Seneca Chief, which will be used to water the final tree in New York City – symbolically uniting the state in a gesture of remembrance and renewal.
The Bicentennial Voyage Visitor Experience is made possible through the generous support of M&T Bank, the Title Program Partner for the statewide journey. M&T Bank is helping this historic commemoration reach communities across the state, bringing education and reflection to thousands of New Yorkers. In addition to its financial contributions, hundreds of M&T employees will provide volunteer support throughout the voyage. The company’s involvement was inspired by its own history as a bank founded generations ago to meet the capital needs of entrepreneurs and manufacturers whose operations were rapidly expanding thanks to the Erie Canal’s commercial impact.
“M&T Bank’s roots trace back to just a few decades after the Erie Canal first opened, connecting us to a long history of growth and transformation across New York State,” said Tracy Woodrow, M&T Bank Chief Administrative Officer & WNY Regional President. “We’re proud to support the Buffalo Maritime Center and the Bicentennial Voyage in honoring the individuals and communities who helped shape the Erie Canal’s lasting influence. As the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief retraces this historic route, we hope it inspires reflection, deepens community ties, and fosters a renewed commitment to the towns and cities that continue to carry this legacy forward.”
Trzeciak concludes, “The narrative of the Erie Canal is more complex, interesting, and relevant than people might realize. We hope that when people step aboard the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief and engage with our crew and volunteers, they leave feeling more connected – to the past, to their community, and to one another.”
For more information about the 2025 Bicentennial Voyage, including a printable map, voyage itinerary, and port information, plus a downloadable Bicentennial Voyage Guidebook, please visit buffalomaritimecenter.org/bicentennial-voyage/.
ABOUT BUFFALO MARITIME CENTER
The Buffalo Maritime Center (BMC) is a living workshop where volunteers, students, and master craftspeople come together to build, restore, and maintain wooden boats, fostering a deeper appreciation for the region’s waterways. Launched in 2010, the nonprofit organization is the center point for reviving the maritime culture that earned Buffalo its identity as the “Queen City of the Great Lakes.” Visit BuffaloMaritimeCenter.org to learn more about BMC’s educational programs, boatbuilding projects, and the organization's dedication to building community, and follow @BuffaloMaritimeCenter on social media.
ABOUT M&T
M&T is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services with a branch and ATM network spanning the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T's Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. For more information about M&T Bank, visit www.mtb.com.
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Photo: Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief Entering Lock 67 in Lockport. Photo by Buffalo Maritime Center
MEDIA CONTACT:
Whitney Creighton, Marketing Director
whitney@buffalomaritimecenter.org | 917.817.1538