Governor Kathy Hochul today marked the 200th anniversary of the opening of the original Erie Canal in New York City with the arrival of the Buffalo Maritime Center's Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief. The boat is a replica of the original vessel Governor DeWitt Clinton traveled on from Buffalo to New York City in 1825. The current voyage began September 24 in Buffalo. The Seneca Chief made 28 stops along the Erie Canal and Hudson River before ending its journey at Pier 26 at Hudson River Park in New York City on October 26.
Today’s Erie Canal is now part of the 524-mile New York State Canal system managed by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and New York State Canal Corporation. As the Erie Canal enters its third century of operation, it has primarily become a recreational and cultural destination, with a focus on arts and culture, sustainability, and accessibility, while still moving cargo too large for other means of transportation.
“For two centuries, the Erie Canal has been a symbol of ingenuity and perseverance, shaping the economic and social landscape of New York and the United States,” Governor Hochul said. “As a Buffalo native, I have logged hundreds of hours on the canals and know first-hand of the impact and beauty. As we celebrate this incredible bicentennial milestone, we look forward to the Canal's third century of operation and are committed to ensuring a resilient and accessible Canal system for all New Yorkers for centuries to come.”
The Governor was introduced at today’s event by DeWitt Clinton’s 15-year-old great-great-great-great-great-grandson, DeWitt Silber.
The Erie Canal has been a cornerstone in the development of New York State as we know it, and the nation. It has served as a vital connector for commerce, linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, and facilitating the movement of goods and people. Over the years, the Canal has played significant roles in major historical movements, including the Underground Railroad, Women’s Right to Vote, the expansion of religions, fostering communities and driving progress. Through their More Voices initiative, NYPA and the Canal Corporation are working to share a more comprehensive narrative of the Erie Canal’s history. Topics include the stories of underrepresented communities including those of African Americans, women, immigrants, and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
To acknowledge the displacement of indigenous people during the building of the Canal, an Eastern White Pine Tree was planted at each stop of the current Seneca Chief voyage that represents the strength of the Haudenosaunee people, as well as a promise for a sustainable future for the Erie Canal. In Haudenosaunee culture, the White Pine also holds significance as the Tree of Peace.
Since taking office, Governor Hochul has emphasized the state’s continuing commitment to the long-term viability of the canal system, designating $50 million in each of the past two state budgets to rehabilitate reservoir dams, improve earthen embankment dams, and repair aging water control structures, many of which predate Clinton’s inaugural Erie Canal voyage. The funds are in addition to NYPA’s annual investment for canal system maintenance and operations.
As the Erie Canal’s third century of operation begins, the New York State Canal Corporation is gearing up to carry out the recently published Canal Recreationway 2050 Plan. Created with input from hundreds of stakeholders throughout the canal corridor, it is structured around seven guiding principles that together form a comprehensive vision for the 524-mile Canal system of waterways, trails and parks. The guiding principles include cultural heritage, accessibility, economic impact, ecological benefit, and environmental resiliency.
Most recently, the Canal Corporation began identifying property along the Erie Canal where pollinator meadows can be created. This endeavor not only aims to reduce maintenance needs, but also aims to enhance biodiversity, support vital ecosystems, and ensure the Canal's ecological health for the next century. This sustainable approach honors the Canal system’s rich history while fostering environmental stewardship and resilience, contributing to a greener, more vibrant future for generations to come. 16 acres have been identified to date, with hundreds more to come.
The New York State Canal system endeavors to become a worldwide destination for accessible recreation through On the Canals, as well as NYPA and Canal Corporation’s On the Canals Accessibility Education Program. Now in its sixth year, On the Canals provides free programming across the Canal system through local providers to get people recreating on the water and the Canalway Trails. With its relatively calm waters and level trail surfaces, it is an ideal location for people of all abilities to recreate. The On the Canals Accessibility Education Program, now in its second year, works with participating businesses to ensure they are receiving the correct tools and knowledge they need to guarantee that their facilities and programming are fully accessible for all who seek to enjoy recreation along the Canal system.
Considered an engineering marvel when it was built 200 years ago and the center of technological innovation, the Erie Canal today still employs cutting edge technology to help maintain and repair its centuries-old infrastructure, including robots, drones and infrared cables. These tools aid with inspections and monitoring of hard-to-reach areas. Officials recently addressed seepage on a 200-year-old earthen embankment in Royalton, Niagara County, by installing a soil-bentonite slurry wall using One-Pass Trenching Technology.
It has been a busy bicentennial year for the Erie Canal, with programming already reflecting the goals laid out for its third century of operation through:
- September’s World Canals Conference in Buffalo, which hosted nearly 500 international participants who exchanged ideas and best practices for caring for the world’s inland waterways;
- the Buffalo Maritime Center’s Seneca Chief journey, which included 28 stops between Buffalo and New York Harbor, along with the planting of 28 white pine trees to represent the resiliency of the Haudenosaunee and an environmentally sustainable Erie Canal;
- WMHT’s documentary, Reflections on the Erie Canal;
- the third year of the Canal Corporation’s Artists-in-Residence program, with a special focus on the Erie Canal’s 200th birthday;
- Albany Symphony’s concert series, Water Music: More Voices, which focused on underrepresented stories about the people who make up the Erie Canal’s fabric in five Canalside locations;
- the distribution of hundreds of thousands of copies of a commemorative Erie Canal Bicentennial poster, which is available for download here;
- an Erie Canal themed DMV license plate;
- a million-dollar Erie Canal-themed New York State Lottery raffle; and
- hundreds of community-hosted events across New York State.
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