HISTORIC ERIE CANAL BOAT SENECA CHIEFRETURNS HOME TO BUFFALO SATURDAY, JUNE 27, AT CANALSIDE
Buffalo Maritime Center announces free summer programming, educational experiences, and public tours aboard the historic canal boat
Buffalo, N.Y., June 23, 2026 - 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, New York. 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 Street) 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 Street) at approximately 12 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 Corporation, 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," said Brian Trzeciak, Executive Director of Buffalo Maritime Center. "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 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 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 September 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:
JUNE 28 - SEPTEMBER 27
Fri 4-7 PM | Sat & Sun 11-3 PM | Commercial Slip
Seneca Chief Guided Tours & Demonstrations
JULY 8
6-8 PM | Waterway of Change at Canalside
Canalside Lecture Series: The Seneca Chief Returns
JULY 11
11 AM-2 PM | Great Lakes Field Station
Dockside Demonstrations: Great Lakes Center
JULY 17
7 PM | Commercial Slip
Shakespeare in Delaware Park’s Touring Production: Fools and Foes
AUGUST 1
12-3 PM | Commercial Slip
Dockside Demonstrations
AUGUST 2
11 AM | Canalside
716 Celebrates: Stars, Stripes, & Signers
AUGUST 8
6-9 PM | Canalside
Canal Boat Dock Party Fundraiser
SEPTEMBER 19
12-3 PM | Commercial Slip
Dockside Demonstrations
OCTOBER 3
1-5 PM | Lockport
Locktoctoberfest
OCTOBER 4-15
Lockport
Seneca Chief Guided Tours
TUESDAY PADDLES
6-8 PM | Various Locations
Every Tuesday, you can enjoy free canoeing adventures across Buffalo & WNY! Canoes and instruction are provided.
WEDNESDAY SAILING
6-8 PM | Canalside
Every Wednesday, learn sailing basics - or just relax and enjoy the ride - aboard BMC's
hand-built sailboats.
THURSDAY CRUISES
6-8 PM | Canalside
Every Thursday, we offer a sunset cruise down the Buffalo River on our historic electric-powered boat, White Electra!
Admission is free and family-friendly! Donations are welcome, which directly support Buffalo Maritime Center's educational and community programs. Pre-registration may be required. For a complete list of BMC events, educational resources, registration, and to learn more about the Back to Buffalo Tour, visit BuffaloMaritimeCenter.org.
The Back to Buffalo Tour is made possible through the generous support of M&T Bank, the Title Program Partner. M&T Bank’s partnership with the Buffalo Maritime Center builds on a longstanding, shared commitment to communities throughout the Erie Canal corridor. Founded in 1856 to support the growing capital needs of businesses following the opening of the Erie Canal, M&T Bank has long played a role in fostering connection and fueling economic growth across the towns and cities along the canal’s path.
ABOUT BUFFALO MARITIME CENTER
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, Instagram, and attend BMC’s free public events!
