Aug 12, 2024 (Monday): John Kucko Digital
posted four photos with the comment:
Seneca Chief on the Move: The Seneca Chief, a full-size replica of the boat that opened the Erie Canal 199 years ago, is on the move east—a test run (sea trial) for this vessel ahead of the Erie Canal bicentennial celebration in 2025. This replica was built through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers on behalf of the Buffalo Maritime Center. I’ve captured it today around Lockport, Gasport and Middleport. The boat, along with accompanying tug and skiff, will overnight in Medina this evening in Orleans County before proceeding east. They’ve got programs planned there from 4-7pm today. It’ll be in Brockport (11 Water Street) Tuesday afternoon and Rochester (280 Exchange Boulevard) Wednesday—they will have programs from 4-7pm both days in those locations before the Seneca Chief turns around and returns to Buffalo. Always enjoy seeing the eclectic mix of boats on this historic waterway—this is WONDERFUL! Buffalo Maritime Center
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John Kucko Digital
posted four photos with the comment:
Seneca Chief on the Move (update): It’s one of the neatest, most nostalgic things to happen in Western New York in quite some time. The building of the replica vessel, the Seneca Chief, took place from October, 2020 through June, 2024. The original Seneca Chief was the very first boat to travel the Erie Canal from Buffalo to New York City some 199 years ago in 1825. Folks at the Buffalo Maritime Center made it their mission to build a spectacular replica, one weighing 40 tons and measuring 73 feet [22m] in length, just like the original. It fast became one of the largest community boat building projects in the world. Today I caught the vessel in the midst of its test run, a sea test. I saw it in Lockport, Gasport, Middleport and Medina—where its overnighting before proceeding to Brockport Tuesday, then Rochester the next day. The public is invited to see this—events are happening to educate folks on this terrific project (see post from this morning). 2025 is an enormous year for the Erie Canal, a bicentennial year and this boat will make a “Bicentennial Voyage” from Buffalo to New York Harbor, traveling the length of the canal to do so. This will be done to commemorate Governor Dewitt Clinton’s very same voyage. The keel, frames and other timbers are made of white oak. the 60 foot [18m] long keelson is made of Douglas Fir. Over 200 volunteers contributed to the building of this stunning vessel. I met a little boy today between Middleport and Medina at the boat launch, his grandparents took him there to see this. He told me he wants to do a school research project on this for the coming school year—he loved what he saw. I was so happy to hear him say that. And this is exactly why this boat will be embarking on this journey. To educate and commemorate the most of iconic waterways in America. Without the Erie Canal, who knows how many of these cities, villages, towns and hamlets in the northeast would have become what they have. Today was a very enjoyable day! Buffalo Maritime Center
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| Russell Nowakowski commented on John's post Dennis DeBruler: Russell Nowakowski For us out-of-staters who like canal history, which town is this? |
Before I do photos about the sea trail, I found some photos of its construction.
Aug 18, 2021: Joseph Rennie
posted six photos with the comment: "Installing the stem on SENECA CHIEF today."
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Mar 25, 2022: Joseph Rennie
posted five photos with the comment: "Buffalo Maritime Center's Seneca Chief."
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Apr 14, 2022: Joseph Rennie
posted four photos with the comment: "A stop at the Long Shed progress on SENECA CHIEF."
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Apr 24, 2024: Scott Nourse
posted seven photos with the comment:
Progress is being made on the Buffalo Maritime Center Seneca Chief project as we near the May 7th departure from the building. New “old timey” windows are being installed, the rear deck is being finished with copper flashing around openings, the cabin roof is being sealed, and the outdoor fixtures are being fabricated and installed. On May 7 it will be taken out of the building, put in the water at the Port Buffalo and return to the Commercial Slip, where the interior and remaining tasks will be completed. On May 25 we will have our celebratory arrival where we will bring it back into the slip with an official ceremony- please join us! (See the attached poster)
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May 5, 2024: Joseph Rennie
posted two photos with the comment: "Putting the finishing touches on the Seneca Chief 5/5/2024."
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| Scott Nourse commented on Joseph's post |
One of the cargo doors being installed. |
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Scott Nourse commented on Joseph's post
Test fitting the transom. |
May 7, 2024: Barbara Rickard
posted two photos with the comment:
May 7th will be the launch of SENECA CHIEF. A boat 5 yrs in the making..as authentic a replica as Buffalonian volunteers could make. I went down a day early to make sure they were doing it right...got to meet Johnathan. He carved and painted the images on stern. Beautiful. He's a cool guy. Professor at Buffalo State who taught students his craft.
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May 7, 2024:
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2:10 video in the group Buffalo Area Transportation, Industry, Architecture & Defense
[Around 0:47 you can see that the front and rear groups of 3 axles are steerable. The lady by the fire hydrant demonstrates that there is typically one person that doesn't have a clue about photo line etiquette. And they hold their phone vertically even though the subject is very horizontal.] |
May 7, 2024:
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4:33 video @ 0:48, cropped
[The truck they lifted it off of has already pulled forward. I chose this scene because it includes some of the crane.] |
She jerked the camera and accidently caught the crane.
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| @ 3:44, cropped |
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@ 4:05, cropped
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Still May 7.
Tom Muscarella
posted four photos with the comment: "Here are some pics of the
Seneca Chief in the Commercial Slip today."
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Joseph Rennie
posted five photos with the comment: "Seneca Chief in the water at last."
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[This is the museum's historical tug that is used to move it.] |
10 photos taken during a tour of the boat
The Sea Trails
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BuffaloMaritimeCenter
[I saved the Sea Trials schedule because I could not find a permanent link to this event..] |
Several people caught the Seneca Chief in Lockport
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2 of 12 photos posted by Danton Coulson via
Dennis DeBruler.
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b
[We can see the water churn as they are filling the lock.] |
And east of Lockport: Medina Culvert
The Official trip to New York, NY
Sep 24, 2025:
John Kucko Digital
posted five images with the comment:
The Erie Canal at 200 (#39): Continuing my weekly series here on the page commemorating the bicentennial of the iconic Erie Canal. Today is the day the Seneca Chief replica vessel begins its 33 day voyage here in Buffalo, ending in New York City on October 26th—200 years later to the day when DeWitt Clinton’s Seneca Chief made that journey to open the iconic Erie Canal. Last image here is a map of its trip, as well as dates on where it will be. This is a must-see if you live anywhere near the route! It’s a floating museum and the public is welcome to see this up close and learn plenty. I snapped some images from inside to give you an idea of this incredible vessel constructed by many dozens of volunteers with the Buffalo Maritime Center the last several years. It’s a sight to behold and this morning at Canalside here in Buffalo, the western terminus of the original Erie Canal, it begins its storied journey.
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Sep 24, 2025:
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John Kucko Digital posted
Seneca Chief Begins Voyage: AMAZING sight here at Canalside in Buffalo as the Seneca Chief replica vessel has begun its 33-day journey that will ultimately bring this vessel to New York City on October 26th—200 years to the day after the original Seneca Chief arrived there with Governor DeWitt Clinton. It was a wonderful honor to emcee the festivities here this morning. Godspeed to the crew and support staff with the Buffalo Maritime Center who made this happen. They had a vision several years ago—and through determination and unbridled passion, they made this a reality. Watch for the Seneca Chief along the entire Erie Canal as it makes its journey to New York City. |
Colonial Belle
posted two photos with the comment: "Buffalo Maritime Center’s Erie Canal Boat
Seneca Chief will begin her journey across the Erie Canal soon!"
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Sep 24, 2025
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John Kucko Digital posted, cropped
Seneca Chief Sendoff: Hard to put into words how special today has been as the Seneca Chief replica boat begins a 33-day journey to New York City from Buffalo. I had the privilege of emceeing the sendoff event this morning at Canalside in Buffalo. I then got on a crew boat for a bit where I did a Facebook Live broadcast from and then got on the Seneca Chief itself where they eventually dropped me off in Tonawanda, NY. Quite an escort flotilla as we entered Lake Erie with the Buffalo Fire Department boat, the Edward M. Cotter, leading the way. The passionate folks at the Buffalo Maritime Center, a couple hundred volunteers, built this over the last few years specifically for this bicentennial voyage. They are overnighting in Lockport tonight, Medina tomorrow night (Thursday). I’ll provide updates as they travel the length of the Erie Canal before entering the Hudson River in the Capital Region, then heading south only to arrive in New York City on October 26th—200 years to the day after the original Seneca Chief arrived there . It’s incredibly historic and educational and folks anywhere near the Erie Canal really should see this. More content to come later—a day I’ll never forget! |
Sep 24, 2025:
Sep 24, 2025, 5:45pm:
Lockport |
| Robert G. Luskin commented on John's post |
Sep 26, 2025: (It lost a day off the schedule already?)
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John Kucko Digital posted
Seneca Chief Passes Over Medina Culvert: The fabulous Seneca Chief replica vessel has begun day 3 of its 33-day voyage to New York City. It left Medina, NY along the Erie Canal this morning and is on the move east, passing over the historic Medina Culvert—ONLY spot on the entire Erie Canal where vehicles go UNDER the canal. The Chief will make brief stops in Albion and Holley before arriving in Brockport later today and overnighting there. Tomorrow it heads to Rochester for a night, then to Fairport for two nights (Sunday and Monday). |
Sep 26, 2025:
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John Kucko Digital posted
[No one answered my question as to which lift bridge this was.] |
They must have hung a left where the
canal crosses the Genesee River and gone into Rochester because that is the
Frederick Douglass Susan B Anthony Bridge in the background.
Before 1919, the Erie Canal did go through downtown Rochester. [
Dennis DeBruler]
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Brian Norton commented on John's post
The Buffalo Sal. Special built to assist the tug in tight spots. I've got a mule and her name is Sal. |
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Thomas Lowney commented on John's post
[I could not identify the "SLIP" bridge nor the park. It looks like it would be a tight fit under that bridge.] |
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| Thomas Lowney commented on John's post |
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David Feinbloom commented on John's post
Bit busier yesterday. I tried to find you to say hello and thank you. |
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Vicki Smith-Drysdale commented on John's post
Stopped by this morning! |
Passing under the
Main Street Bridge in Fairport, NY.
The buildings in the above reel identify this bridge as the
Main Street Bridge in Fairport, NY.
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John Kucko Digital posted
Seneca Chief Arrives in Fairport: Quite the flotilla this afternoon as the Seneca Chief replica vessel arrived in Fairport, NY—passing under the iconic Lift Bridge— where it will overnight tonight and tomorrow before proceeding to Newark, NY on Tuesday. The Fairport-based Colonial Belle helped usher the Chief into this terrific Western New York village along the Erie Canal. Today marks day 5 five of a 33-day journey of the Seneca Chief in this bicentennial year of the historic waterway. This is a terrific vessel to see—there is plenty of opportunity to go on board and experience the educational aspects of this terrific voyage. |
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| R. Jeremy Starr commented on John's post |
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John Kucko Digital posted
The Seneca Chief—Beauty in the Details: The Seneca Chief replica vessel will depart Fairport, NY today [Sep 30, 2025] and head east to Newark, NY where it will overnight there this evening before proceeding to Lyons. This was one of the largest volunteer boat building projects ever, anywhere. The folks at the Buffalo Maritime Center enlisted the help of anyone who was interested over these last several years. Some interesting facts about the 73-foot long boat: — 2000 hand-fabricated bronze boosts hold it together, all forged in the BMC machine shop — the keel, frames and structural timbers are made of White Oak — the keelson is a single 60-foot long piece of reclaimed Douglas Fir that had been used as a 1900’s gin pole crane, donated by Higgins Erectors & Haulers out of Buffalo. This is a wonderful vessel to see—there is plenty of opportunity to go on board and experience the educational aspects of this terrific voyage. More updates to follow… |
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John Kucko Digital posted
The Seneca Chief Arrives in Newark, NY: The Seneca Chief replica vessel pushed east today [Sep 30, 2025] as it left Fairport, NY this morning and entered Wayne County. Fitting that I parked myself under an apple tree there as Wayne County has some of the best orchards in America. |
John Kucko Digital
posted four photos with the comment: "The Seneca Chief—Day 8: The replica vessel of the original
Seneca Chief continues its voyage to New York City as day eight of the journey brought them to beautiful
Lyons, NY in Wayne County yesterday. The weather was PERFECT and a mule was even on hand, a nod to 200 years ago when mules worked tirelessly to get boats and products moving east and west along the Erie Canal. It was the ideal canal bicentennial celebration there including a stellar performance by the Towpath Volunteers Fife & Drum Corps based in nearby Macedon."
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Buffalo Maritime Center
posted three photos with the comment:
Red sky in the morning . . .
We’re on our way from Brewerton to Sylvan Beach crossing Oneida Lake this morning. We have always known this to be the most challenging portion of the Bicentennial Voyage because the weather can whip up some big waves. And as it turns out, the sunny days that we’ve been having are taking a break today and the rain and the wind are coming in. The good news is that the pending weather brought a rainbow with it, so that’s a good sign. See you all in Sylvan Beach!
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