Seneca Chief Exhibit

The Buffalo Maritime Center has constructed a full-sized replica of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief, which first traversed the Erie Canal upon its opening in 1825. From its inception, the Erie Canal Boat Project has sought to engage the community through interactive, hands-on activities and historical discovery. This ambitious community boatbuilding initiative, brought to life by hundreds of volunteers, took place inside the Longshed at Canalside on Buffalo’s waterfront from October 2020 to June 2024. Now docked in the Commercial Slip beside the Longshed during the spring/summer months, the Seneca Chief is open for public viewing, where visitors can watch volunteers add the final touches to this historic recreation.