Historic Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief returning home to Buffalo

Buffalo Maritime Center announces free summer programming, educational experiences & public tours aboard historic canal boat

Buffalo Maritime Center press release

The Buffalo Maritime Center's Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief will return home to Buffalo on Saturday, June 27, following a statewide voyage west from Waterford. The homecoming marks the culmination of the “Back to Buffalo Voyage,” BMC's statewide education and community engagement initiative, and officially opens a summer season of free public programming at Canalside.

The Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief will depart Gateway Park in North Tonawanda (99 Sweeney St.) at 9:15 a.m. Led on the water by the E. M. Cotter Fireboat and welcomed dockside by bagpiper Henry Schmitt, the boat is expected to arrive at the Commercial Slip at Canalside (44 Prime St.) at approximately noon. Folk duo Sally Schaefer and Tyler Bagwell will perform Erie Canal music as the canal boat docks where its remarkable journey first began.

An official welcome home ceremony begins at 1 p.m., emceed by Buffalo Maritime Center Executive Director Brian Trzeciak and featuring remarks from Buffalo Maritime Center, M&T Bank Charitable Foundation, New York State Canal Corp., Erie County, the City of Buffalo, and Indigenous Scholar Melissa Parker Leonard. 

The ceremony will end with the final “Gathering of the Waters,” a tradition first introduced during the 2025 bicentennial voyage, when communities were invited to contribute water from their part of the Erie Canal or the Hudson River to a barrel carried aboard the Seneca Chief. 

Along that journey, White Pine trees were planted at each port as a symbolic tribute to the Haudenosaunee and a commitment to a sustainable future, and the water collected throughout the bicentennial voyage was used to nourish the final White Pine planted in New York City.

This year, water gathered from Waterford to Buffalo will nourish the first ceremonial White Pine planted at Buffalo's Seneca Bluffs Park, completing a symbolic circle of connection, remembrance, and renewal that honors the past while strengthening the bonds that have united communities along the canal through this community boatbuilding project.

"The ‘Back to Buffalo Tour’ has always been about more than bringing a boat home," Trzeciak said. "It's about reconnecting communities to New York's waterways, sharing stories that have shaped our state, and celebrating the craftsmanship, resilience and spirit that continue to define Buffalo. This boat was built by Buffalo, for Buffalo, and we can't wait to finally welcome our community aboard."

From 2-5 p.m., the public will have the opportunity to explore the boat's newly completed interior and educational exhibits for the first time. Beginning June 28 and continuing through Sept. 27, visitors can step aboard the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief every Friday, Saturday and Sunday to explore the floating museum and learn about the boat's history, construction, and the people and communities connected to the Erie Canal. 

Additional summer highlights at Canalside include lectures, dockside demonstrations, performances, and on-the-water experiences such as “Tuesday Night Paddles,” “Wednesday Night Sailing” and “Thursday Night Sunset Cruises.”

Buffalo Maritime Center graphic

••••••••

Admission is free and family-friendly! Donations are welcome, which directly support Buffalo Maritime Center's educational and community programs. Preregistration may be required. For a complete list of BMC events, educational resources, registration, or to learn more about the “Back to Buffalo Tour,” visit BuffaloMaritimeCenter.org.

The Buffalo Maritime Center (BMC) is a living workshop where volunteers, students and master craftspeople come together to build, restore and maintain wooden boats. 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. Follow @BuffaloMaritimeCenter on Facebook and Instagram, or attend BMC’s free public events.