KINGSTON- Hudson River Maritime Museum recently accepted a one-inch scale model of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief on temporary loan from the Buffalo Maritime Center in Buffalo, New York. The hand-built model by Chris Andre will be on display as part of the Museum’s current exhibition, The Hudson River and its Canals. The addition of the model is part of expansions to the exhibit in anticipation of the planned 2025 bicentennial celebrations commemorating the inaugural voyage on the Erie Canal from Buffalo to New York Harbor.
The model represents the full-scale operational replica of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief which was recently completed by the Buffalo Maritime Center. The original Seneca Chief was built in 1825 in anticipation of the completion of the Erie Canal’s western section. It famously carried Governor DeWitt Clinton and other dignitaries to New York City in the fall of 1825 to celebrate the completion of the Canal. The boat was subsequently placed in commercial service for freight and passengers by owner Thaddeus Joy as a line boat for the Pilot Line.
A full-scale replica of the traditionally-built plank-on-frame canal boat will journey from Buffalo to New York City to re-enact the famous “Wedding of the Waters” ceremony in New York Harbor in late 2025. During this trip, the replica canal boat will be our guest at the Hudson River Maritime Museum in October 2025. Details will be available in advance of the visit.
