This event is FREE, family-friendly, and open to the public.
Evening Lineup:
6:00 – Doors Open! Tour our Boatshop, Museum, Classroom, and more!
6:30 – Meet BMC
7:00 – Birch Bark Canoe Spotlight
7:30 – Strawberry Island Skiff Presentation
8:00 – Want to Get Involved? We’ll tell you how!
8:30 – Closing
Join us for an informative presentation by the Great Lakes Center about the NEW Buffalo Weather/Data Buoy being deployed.
The buoy will join the Great Lakes Observing System and will contribute real-time wave, weather, and water conditions to a publicly accessible website.
The Great Lakes Center will be discussing some buoy basics, explaining how to access the data, and how our maritime community can benefit from this new resource.
This event is FREE and open to the public!
Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 6:00PM - 7:00PM
Master Birch Bark Canoe Builder Chuck Commanda | Speaker Series
Seneca-Iroquois National Museum, Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center - 82 W Hetzel St, Salamanca, NY 14779
Join us for an interview with Master Birch Bark Canoe Builder Chuck Commanda. Interviewed via Zoom by Buffalo Maritime Center Curator, Edward Knibloe. We'll explore Chuck's journey in bark canoe building and discuss the canoe that Chuck and the BMC have been working on. That canoe will be on view for the event as well. Birch bark canoes are a millennia-old North American boat building tradition. Through Chuck's stewardship, those important traditions continue. This event is sponsored by The Paul & Helen Ellis Charitable Trust and is free an open to the public. Can’t join in person? Join us virtually. Follow the link below to register. Spots are limited. Click Here to register to join the event virtually
February 10 - March 24, 2026 | Tues. & Thurs. 6:00PM - 10:00PM
Captain's Class
Buffalo Maritime Center | 90 Arthur Street, Buffalo, NY 14207
As a part of its Maritime Education Mission, the Buffalo Maritime Center partners with True North Maritime Academy to provide USCG Approved Captain’s License Courses. The courses to date have been well received and very successful. The Operator Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) Class will start on February 10 and go through March 24. The class occurs every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6-10 PM at the Buffalo Maritime Center. This will be followed by Masters Upgrade (MU) 100 Ton from March 31 through April 16 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6-10 PM. The 4 hour Assistance Towing Class will be held on April 21 and the 4 Hour Auxiliary Sail Class will be held on April 23. If we do not get enough students to commit by January 31, unfortunately, we will have to cancel. However, we will be offering the same set of classes starting in October 2026.
True North Maritime Academy will be offering these 4 classes as a package at a discount price of $1270.00 for Buffalo Maritime Center Members. True North Maritime will also make a donation to the Buffalo Maritime Center for every student enrolled. If you are interested, contact Captain Phil Sullivan at (716) 989-7761 to discuss class and licensing requirements. As stated above you will need to commit prior to January 31 to enroll in the February class. A $200.00 deposit is required at time of enrollment. Additional information can also be found on the True North Maritime Academy website: truenorthmaritime.org.