ECHDC authorizes Buffalo History Museum to operate new visitors experience center at Canalside

Interactive, multimedia exhibits at Longshed Building will welcome visitors during 2025 Erie Canal bicentennial commemoration

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. Press Release

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. board of directors met Tuesday and authorized The Buffalo History Museum to transition its role from content creation and experience development to providing operational and support services for “Waterway of Change: A Complex Legacy of the Erie Canal,” a new Erie Canal bicentennial visitor experience set to open in May 2025 at Canalside in Buffalo. While acting as ECHDC’s operational partner, the museum will also foster curiosity and engagement across Canalside, from historic ruins and canal thresholds to the replica of the Erie Canal terminus, while sourcing, supplying, and operating a gift shop. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the “Waterway of Change” experience earlier this year.

“ ‘Waterway of Change’ will be the premier attraction at Canalside when we mark the historic 200th anniversary of the opening of the Erie Canal in Buffalo next year,” ECHDC Chairperson Joan Kesner said. “We could not ask for a more competent partner to operate this visitor experience center than the Buffalo History Museum, which has been sharing stories for more than a century and half that demonstrate Buffalo’s essential place in shaping history.”

“The Erie Canal’s story is one of ingenuity, resilience and transformation, shaped by countless voices and experiences across generations,” said Melissa Brown, executive director of The Buffalo History Museum. “With ‘Waterway of Change,’ we aim to highlight the diverse perspectives that connect people to Buffalo’s waterfront history – from the Haudenosaunee’s stewardship of this land to the innovations of the Canal era – encouraging visitors to see this history as a living force that continues to shape our region and its future.”

The 2,900-square-foot “Waterway of Change,” currently under construction for installation in the Longshed, will serve as a dynamic gathering space and starting point for visitors beginning their bicentennial commemoration experience. The exhibit will trace Canalside’s history, beginning with its significance as the ancestral land of the Haudenosaunee and acknowledging the impacts of their displacement. Visitors will also experience how the area transformed from a rural village at the time the Erie Canal opened in 1825 to a bustling 19th-century port and shipping hub.

“Waterway of Change” will include interactive multimedia exhibits for visitors of all ages and abilities, sharing Buffalo’s Erie Canal story in an inclusive way using short films, touch screens, audio, historical artifacts, and dramatic lighting. A series of outdoor interpretive elements will also be created at towpaths along and around the canals.

New York Power Authority Chairman John R. Koelmel said, “The Erie Canal played a pivotal role in transforming New York into a hub of commerce and trade, and its construction had a profound impact on the cultural identity of New York state. NYPA is proud to support ‘Waterway of Change,’ which will help connect visitors to Buffalo’s waterfront as we collectively commemorate the bicentennial of the Erie Canal.”

Staffing and administrative support for “Waterway of Change” will be provided from The Buffalo History Museum’s north Buffalo location at One Museum Court in Buffalo. The museum’s role as ECHDC’s operational partner will drive year-round activation at Canalside. The museum plans to create unique guided experiences both inside the new visitor center and outdoors, at the ruins, thresholds, and replica Canal terminus. Programming will be geared toward all ages and abilities, including sensory-friendly quiet hours, tours for school groups of all ages, and tour bus experiences for adults. The rich, multifaceted history and significance of the Erie Canal story will inspire a variety of activities, talks and programs for diverse audiences, complementing core exhibits. These offerings will engage visitors and encourage locals to return for new experiences.

A tailored approach to the museum’s “The Museum Shop,” a long-standing guest experience at the north Buffalo location, will be created to complement the unique Canalside experience. The shop will cater to tourists and locals alike, with branded merchandise for EC2025@Canalside offered at Canalside, the north Buffalo location, and the museum’s online store. Profits will be shared equally between the museum and ECHDC, with ECHDC’s portion allocated to a dedicated fund for the ongoing enhancement of the “Waterway of Change” starting in 2025.

The contract amount for the operational and support services of “Waterway of Change” is not to exceed $398,878, and the contract runs through Dec. 31, 2025.

For more information on “Waterway of Change” and the Erie Canal bicentennial, visit the recently launched website at www.eriecanalturns200.com and follow Erie Canal Turns 200 on social media for posts and updates:

• Facebook – Erie Canal Turns 200 (@ErieCanalTurns200)
• Instagram – @eriecanalturns200 (@ErieCanalTurns200)
• TikTok – @eriecanalturns200 (@ErieCanalTurns200)

The ECHDC board also approved these two actions:

•Authorized ECHDC to enter into a $890,150 contract with Queen City Bike Ferry Inc. for Buffalo waterfront ferry operation services with a contract term of April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2030.

•Authorized ECHDC to enter into a contract term amendment to the wayfinding signage consultant agreement with ASI Signage Innovations. The amendment term is through May 31, 2025.

Funding for all these contracts is from the New York Power Authority, through relicensing agreements tied to the operation of the Niagara Power Project.