ERIE CANAL BICENTENNIAL VOYAGE COMING TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Buffalo Maritime Center’s full-scale replica of the *Seneca Chief* Expected to Stop in Canajoharie, Amsterdam, as part of its 500-mile journey from Buffalo to New York City.

FONDA, N.Y., –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 in 1825. Handcrafted by nearly 200 volunteers and students inside the Longshed at Canalside in Buffalo, the *Seneca Chief* stands as a powerful symbol of craftsmanship, collaboration, and New York State’s enduring maritime legacy.

On Wednesday, September 24, 2025, the *Seneca Chief* began its 33-day Bicentennial Voyage commemorating Governor DeWitt Clinton’s historic trip. The boat will travel 500 miles along the Erie Canal and Hudson River, visiting 28 communities and concluding with a grand arrival in New York City on October 26, 2025.

The *Seneca Chief* will arrive in Riverfront Park at 143 Church St., Canajoharie, on Sunday, October 12 at 3 p.m. where the public is invited to participate in free, family-friendly events, ceremonies, and educational programs.

Local Schedule of Events for Canajoharie:

3 p.m. Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief Arrives

3:30 p.m. Welcome Ceremony

4 to 6 p.m. Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief Visitor Experience Open to the Public

The *Seneca Chief* will arrive in Riverlink Park at 2 Front St., Amsterdam, on Monday, October 13 at 3 p.m. where the public is invited to participate in free, family-friendly events, ceremonies, and educational programs.

Local Schedule of Events for Amsterdam:

3 p.m. Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief Arrives

3:30 p.m. Welcome Ceremony

4 to 7 p.m. Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief Visitor Experience Open to the Public

While docked, the *Seneca Chief* will transform into a floating museum, welcoming visitors aboard to explore recreated cabins, historical artifacts, and interactive exhibits. Visitors will learn about the canal’s cultural, economic, and environmental significance –including the contributions of Indigenous communities.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see history come to life,” said Montgomery County Executive Pete Vroman. “The Erie Canal helped shape our communities, and the *Seneca Chief* voyage is a reminder of just how important that legacy remains today. I hope families, students, and visitors come out to experience it, learn from it, and celebrate what makes Montgomery County and our canal towns so special.”

“This voyage is about more than retracing history –it’s about reexamining it,” said Brian Trzeciak, Executive Director, Buffalo Maritime Center. “As we honor the 200th anniversary of the canal, we’re committed to telling a holistic story that commemorates its achievement, while also acknowledging its impact on the Haudenosaunee and others.”

At each stop, ceremonies will include planting an Eastern White Pine tree –the Great Tree of Peace in Haudenosaunee culture –and adding local canal water to a barrel aboard the *Seneca Chief”. This water will later be used to nourish the final tree planted in New York City, symbolically uniting the state.

About the Bicentennial Voyage

The Bicentennial Voyage Visitor Experience is made possible through the generous support of M&T Bank, the Title Program Partner. M&T is helping this historic commemoration reach communities across New York State, with financial contributions and volunteer support.

“We’re proud to support the Buffalo Maritime Center and the Bicentennial Voyage in honoring the Erie Canal’s lasting influence,” said Tracy Woodrow, Chief Administrative Officer & WNY Regional President, M&T Bank.

For More Information

For statewide itinerary, resources, and downloadable

guidebook: //buffalomaritimecenter.org/bicentennial-voyage

ABOUT BUFFALO MARITIME CENTER

The Buffalo Maritime Center (BMC) is a nonprofit workshop where volunteers, students, and master craftspeople build, restore, and maintain wooden boats, fostering appreciation for the region’s waterways. Founded in 2010, BMC revives the maritime culture that earned Buffalo its identity as the “Queen City of the Great Lakes.” Learn more at BuffaloMaritimeCenter.org or follow @BuffaloMaritimeCenter on social media.