THE 2025 BICENTENNIAL VOYAGE
COMMEMORATING THE ERIE CANAL | CELEBRATING COMMUNITY
The Erie Canal’s Bicentennial & the Voyage of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief
On the morning of Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Buffalo Maritime Center’s replica of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief embarked on the 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, navigated 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.
The boat docked at 28 ports 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 invited 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.
A Perspective on the History of the Erie Canal
The Erie Canal transformed the young United States, reshaping commerce, transportation, and daily life in the 19th century. Its unprecedented speed of travel enabled the rapid movement of goods, people, and ideas, fueling economic growth and innovation.
While the canal was celebrated as a symbol of progress for New York, that progress was not universal. Its success contributed to the displacement of the Haudenosaunee and led to lasting changes in New York State’s ecosystems, underscoring the complex and far-reaching impact of this historic waterway.
Planting of the White Pines & Gathering of the Waters
As the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief traveled to each port along the canal, White Pine trees were planted as a symbolic tribute to the Haudenosaunee and a commitment to a sustainable future.
Community members were invited to contribute water from their section of the Erie Canal or the Hudson River to a barrel carried aboard the boat. Upon reaching New York City, the gathered water was used to nourish the final tree, uniting the waters of New York State in a powerful gesture of connection and renewal.
