Erie Canal Bicentennial Voyage

On the morning of Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Buffalo Maritime Center’s replica of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief will embark on its Bicentennial Voyage, commemorating Governor DeWitt Clinton’s historic 1825 journey from Buffalo to New York Harbor. A Buffalo Maritime Center crew, comprised of staff and volunteers, will navigate the 33-day voyage, departing from Buffalo’s Commercial Slip – the western terminus of the Erie Canal – and traveling to Pier 26 in New York City.

Along the way, the boat will dock at 28 ports (including the Medina Canal Basin on September 25!) along the Erie Canal and Hudson River before reaching New York City for the official commemoration of the canal’s opening – 200 years after Governor Clinton’s inaugural trip. This historic journey invites Buffalo and communities across New York State to honor the past while envisioning the future.

For a comprehensive look at the Bicentennial Voyage, click here to download the official BMC Bicentennial Voyage Guidebook.