the Seneca Chief is headed to Herkimer!
The Seneca Chief will be making an official stop at the Herkimer Marina on their historic voyage to NYC!
The Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief:
A Community Boat-building Project
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 boat-building 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.
On September 24, 2025, the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief will embark on the Bicentennial Voyage from Buffalo to New York Harbor, commemorating Gov. DeWitt Clinton’s 1825 inaugural journey. This voyage offers Buffalo and communities across New York State a chance to explore the past and plan for the future.
Stop #16 on their historic voyage is Herkimer! Visit Gems Along the Mohawk to welcome the Seneca Chief and it's crew to the Mohawk Valley. We have a full day of FREE events planned, capping off the day with an outdoor concert waterside with local favorites Soul Injection and fireworks at 7:30pm!
The Erie Canal Boat “Seneca Chief” will arrive at the Herkimer Marina at 1:00pm on Friday, October 10. At 1:30pm a welcome ceremony, including dignitary speeches, a Gathering of the Waters and planting of a commemorative white pine Tree Planting will take place. At the ceremony, winners of the “Erie Canal: 200 Years from Now” contest, submitted by fourth-grade students from Herkimer Elementary, Central Valley Academy (Mohawk/Ilion), and Frankfort-Schuyler Elementary schools, will also be announced. Entries will be displayed at the festival.
Guests are encouraged to experience our principal guest, the Erie Canal Boat “Seneca Chief” as it will be open to the public from 2pm-6:30pm.
Stop by from 2pm -5pm and meet the official Glinda from the Oz-Stravaganza festival! Everyone’s favorite good witch will be celebrating along with Gems Along the Mohawk. Glinda appears as a courtesy of the “All Things Oz Museum” in Chittenango, NY (a few miles down the canal)!
Also, 2pm-5pm Buffalo Maritime Center Merchandise tent, paddle shaping and wood carving Demonstrations, Department of Environmental Conservation – AIS exhibit, and Honey Lager special brew tastings by Big Ditch (Buffalo Brewery).
There is a musical guest appearance from 4:30pm – 7:30pm by “Soul Injection” a powerhouse ensemble of seasoned musicians from across upstate New York. Known for their dynamic stage presence and wide-ranging repertoire, the band blends classic soul, jazz, R&B, and rock influences into high-energy performances that get audiences moving.
At 4:30pm historian Michael Disotelle, a wonderfully articulate and engaging historian will hold a presentation on the impact of the Erie Canal’s creation on our local villages—Herkimer, Mohawk, Ilion, and Frankfort. He brings history to life in a way that allows audiences to vividly reimagine the era.
From 5:30pm to 7:30pm, author, Mark S. Ferrara who wrote the book “Raging Erie” will be doing a reading and book signing. He is a professor of English at State University of New York. He tells the stories of the ordinary people who lived, worked and died along the banks of the canal, emphasizing the forgotten role of the poor and working class in this transformation.
This celebration blends history with community, music, and culture. It’s a welcomed opportunity to honor the canal’s past while inspiring future generations.
Festival Highlights:
9:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Gems Along the Mohawk Retail Store open (315-717-0077)
- In-store specials & surprises from retail associates
- Viewing of the local 4th grade “Future of the Erie Canal” challenge
11:30 am – 2:30 pm
- Waterfront Grille inside dining (reservations recommended: 315-717-0700)
11:30 am
- Special Bicentennial "Welcome Seneca Chief" Cruise on Lil' Diamond II from 11:30am-1:00pm
-The special cruise will travel west on the Erie Canal to Ilion to greet and cruise with the Seneca Chief to Herkimer!
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1:00 pm
- Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief arrives in Herkimer
1:30 pm
- Welcome Ceremony & Speeches
- Gathering of the Waters Ceremony
- Commemorative White Pine Tree Planting
- Award Ceremony for winners of the “Erie Canal: 200 Years from Now” Contest
2:00 pm
- Special Bicentennial Cruise on Lil' Diamond II from 2:00pm-3:30pm
-The special cruise will feature a live narration with costumed re-enactors telling the real story of the Erie Canal!
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2:00 pm - 6:30 pm
- Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief Visitor Experience open to the public
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Special visit from Glinda (from Wizard of Oz Museum, Chittenango NY)
- Herkimer College display
- Buffalo Maritime Center merchandise tent
- Paddle shaping & wood carving demonstrations
- DEC Aquatic Invasive Species exhibit
- Honey Lager tastings by Big Ditch Brewing (Buffalo, NY)
- Historic Terminal Building open for self-guided tours
4:00 pm
- Special Bicentennial Cruise on Lil' Diamond II from 4:00pm-5:30pm
-The special cruise will feature a live narration with costumed re-enactors telling the real story of the Erie Canal!
click here to book
4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
- Live Music at the Amphitheater: Soul Injection
- Marina Food Tent – featuring Waterfront Grille hamburgers, sausage & peppers, beer, wine, and blueberry vodka lemonade
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
- Historian Michael Disotelle, Erie Canal & our local villages presentation
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- Waterfront Grille inside dining (reservations recommended: 315-717-0700)
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
- Herkimer Diamond Mines jewelry-making classes (with Dan)
- Author Mark Ferrara (Raging Erie) – book signing & readings
7:30 pm
- Fireworks over the Canal at Herkimer Marina
Saturday, October 11th at 9:00 am
- Special Bicentennial "Thank You Seneca Chief" Cruise to Little Falls on Lil' Diamond II from 9:00am-11:30am
-The special cruise will travel east on the Erie Canal with the Seneca Chief to her next stop in Little Falls, then returning to Herkimer.
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2025 Marks the 200th Anniversary of the Erie Canal
Make plans to visit Gems Along the Mohawk and Erie Canal Cruises this summer!
We have a series of free education exhibits that illustrate the challenges and triumphs of the construction of the Erie Canal.
Erie Canal Stump Puller - 1/2 Scale!
One of the biggest challenges during the construction of the Erie Canal was pulling stumps. It would take 2 men all day to pull 3 or 4 tree stumps, there had to be a better way. One of the innovations of the time was a stump puller, a device that used leverage and horse power to pull the stumps out of the canal bed. With the help of some oxen, the stump puller could pull 30-40 tree stumps a day!
We have a working 1817 stump puller, and will demonstrate this ingenious device that helped to speed up the construction of the Canal!
The 3 Erie Canals Mural Exhibit
The Three Erie Canals is a self-guided exhibit of 3 murals with the story of the three canals, the Original Erie Canal, the Enlarged Erie Canal, and the Barge Canal. We depict the canal prisms, how the canals were constructed and the routes they took. We also explore how each of the three canals were used and how they evolved over the years. It is a remarkable look at the 200 years of innovation and navigation!