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When:
October 8, 2025 @ 12:30 pm – 7:00 pm
2025-10-08T12:30:00-04:00
2025-10-08T19:00:00-04:00
Where:
Bellamy Harbor Park
139 E. Whitesboro St.
139 E. Whitesboro St.
To mark the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal’s opening, the Buffalo Maritime Center (BMC) has built a full-scale replica of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief – the vessel that first journeyed from Buffalo to New York City in 1825. Handcrafted by nearly 200 volunteers and students inside the Longshed at Canalside in Buffalo, the Seneca Chief stands as a powerful symbol of craftsmanship, collaboration, and New York State’s enduring maritime legacy.
On Wednesday, September 24, 2025, the Seneca Chief will begin its 33-day Bicentennial Voyage commemorating Governor DeWitt Clinton’s historic trip. The boat will travel 500 miles along the Erie Canal and Hudson River, visiting 28 communities and concluding with a grand arrival in New York City on October 26, 2025.
The Seneca Chief will arrive in Rome on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at 12:30 PM where the public is invited to participate in free, family-friendly events, ceremonies, and educational programs – as well as live music from Anthony Consiglio, food trucks, market vendors and fireworks at 7:00 PM!
