WATERFORD, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The historic Erie Canal boat Seneca Chief will begin its trip back to Western New York on Saturday, June 6. It will depart from the Waterford Harbor Visitor Center after an 8:30 a.m. departure ceremony.
The boat’s 22-day voyage to Buffalo is the highlight of the 2026 Back to Buffalo Tour. The six-month tour is a statewide community engagement initiative to teach about the state’s maritime heritage.
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After the Seneca Chief traveled from Buffalo to New York City in 2025 for the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal, it is now making its way back to the city of Buffalo, where it all began. The vessel was used by Gov. DeWitt Clinton and was the first vessel to travel on the canal when it first opened.
Now operating as a floating museum, the Seneca Chief will make stops in 16 cities along the canal. At each port, visitors and students can go onboard the boat, engage with educational programming, and explore the boat’s history and construction…