After traveling across New York, the replica Erie Canal boat Seneca Chief has returned to Buffalo. Now docked at Canalside, the vessel has a unique story.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The replica Erie Canal boat Seneca Chief returned home to Buffalo on Saturday, completing a statewide journey that brought the city’s history to communities across New York.
The vessel, built by more than 200 volunteers, will now be docked at Canalside, where visitors can tour it throughout the summer while it continues its educational mission.
Volunteer Kevin Doherty said the experience of building and traveling aboard the boat created lasting connections among those involved.
“In this process of building the boat, and even on this trip on the boat, we had a kind of bonding that just that only comes from people working together in a common cause, and this was the whole purpose of what we were doing,” Doherty said.
He said the project was rooted in community involvement from the start.
“It was really about the community from the beginning. We wanted to be built in the community by the community and for the community, so Buffalo, this is your boat, OK? Western New York, this is your boat,” Doherty said.
The Buffalo Maritime Center said the Seneca Chief will remain active beyond its voyage.