Seneca Chief to Visit Lockport

Lockport will host a special visit by The Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief, on Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11 in the Lockport Locks. Tours of the replica wooden boat, constructed by volunteers at Buffalo Maritime Center, will be available at no charge to the public on both days from 11 AM – 4 PM.

The Lockport itinerary for the Seneca Chief coincides with the popular Lockport Community Farmers Market on Saturday and with the annual LKPT Food Fest on Sunday. The appearance of the craft has been coordinated by the Lockport Locks Heritage District and Lockport Main Street, Inc.

“We are pleased that Buffalo Maritime Center has selected Lockport as a port of call this year as a lead-up to its cross-state journey in 2025 as part of the Erie Canal Bicentennial,” explained David Kinyon, Chairman of the Lockport Locks Heritage District. “Lockport has benefitted from the tremendous craftsmanship of Buffalo Maritime Center volunteers, who constructed the Erie Traveler, which our volunteers lock through the restored Erie Canal Flight of Five every Saturday during the summer.”

“Offering free tours on Sunday in the Lockport Locks provides visitors to the LKPT Food Fest on Main Street another reason to enjoy all that we have to offer in Lockport’s historic downtown,” remarked Grace Platt, Program Manager for Lockport Main Street. LKPT Food Fest will provide offerings from over 20 food vendors from 11 AM - 4 PM.

The Seneca Chief was launched May 7 from the Longshed Building at Canalside in Buffalo after four years of construction by Buffalo Maritime Center’s largely volunteer workforce. The 73-foot long, 44-ton vessel will undertake a cross-state voyage in September, 2025 as part of the festivities for the Erie Canal Bicentennial and the World Canals Conference, the latter taking place in Buffalo during the week of September 21.