Building a Replica of DeWitt Clinton’s Seneca Chief

Learn about the Buffalo Maritime Center’s work to build a replica of this historic Canal boat.

Join the Erie Canal Museum on Facebook Live at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 7 for our weekly Quarantine Coffee Hour. The program is free and open to the public.

John Montague from the Buffalo Maritime Center will talk about the organization’s work to design and build a replica of DeWitt Clinton’s packet boat, the Seneca Chief. The project represents years of research, preparation, design work, fundraising, community engagement, and political negotiating.

DeWitt Clinton was governor of New York when the Erie Canal was completed in 1825. He celebrated the achievement by taking a trip on the Seneca Chief from Buffalo to New York City, where he officially opened the Canal. The replica construction project is part of the Maritime Center’s Canal bicentennial celebration. You can learn more about this project with Montague’s article on our Facebook page or the Newsroom page of our website beginning Monday, May 4.

We encourage you to share questions beforehand by commenting on the Quarantine Coffee Hour Facebook event, or by emailing derrick@eriecanalmuseum.org. Your questions will help make the program even more informative. And please be sure to ask questions during the discussion!

We look forward to seeing you for Quarantine Coffee Hour on Facebook Live, at 10 a.m. May 7!

In response to the COVID-19 crisis and to protect visitors, volunteers, and staff, the Museum is closed to the public until further notice. This online event is a great way to learn Canal history as we all do our part to stay safe and healthy. Until we open our doors, we are working diligently to serve you through these types of programs. We greatly appreciate your support as we face financial uncertainty. If you’d like to make a donation to the Museum, please click here.

The Erie Canal Museum is partially supported by a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.