[ THEME MUSIC ] >> IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," WE'LL DIVE INTO THE 200-YEAR HISTORY OF THE ERIE CANAL IN NEW YORK.

FIRST, WE'LL SIT DOWN WITH THE NEW YORK STATE CANAL CORPORATION TO UNDERSTAND THE LEGACY THE OF THE HISTORIC WATERWAY.

THEN WE'LL LOOK AT AN EPISODE FROM WMHT'S, "REFLECTIONS ON THE ERIE CANAL" DOCUSERIES BEFORE TAKING A DAY TRIP TO EXPLORE THE REPLICA OF THE SENECA CHIEF BOAT.

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA AND THIS IS "NEW YORK NOW".

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO?

WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

NEW YORK STATE IS CELEBRATING THE 200-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SINCE THE CREATION OF THE ERIE CANAL.

BACK IN 1825, THE CANAL WAS BUILT AS THE VERY FIRST WATERWAY TO CONNECT THE ATLANTIC OCEAN TO THE GREAT LAKES.

THE ERIE CANAL, WHICH SPANS ABOUT 363 MILES FROM ALBANY TO BUFFALO, IS REGARDED AS ONE OF THE GREATEST PUBLIC WORKS IN THE COUNTRY.

THROUGH THE YEARS, THE CANAL HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE STATE'S INDUSTRIAL POWER AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.

IT HAS ALSO BEEN AN INNOVATIVE TRANSPORTATION METHOD FOR GOODS AND A BEACON FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RECREATION FOR VISITORS OF THE PORTS.

TODAY, THE NEW YORK STATE CANAL CORPORATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING THE STATE'S CANAL SYSTEM, WHICH, OF COURSE, INCLUDES THE ERIE CANAL.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY AND IMPACT OF THE HISTORIC WATERWAY, WE SAT DOWN WITH REBECCA HUGHES AND JACKIE SCHILLINGER OF THE NEW YORK STATE CANAL CORPORATION.

AT THE TIME OF THIS INTERVIEW, THE CANAL CORPORATION WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CELEBRATING THE 200-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE CANAL.

WE LEARNED ABOUT THIS THEIR PLANS TO HONOR AND KEEP THE LEGACY OF THE HISTORIC WATERWAY ALIVE.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> THANK YOU FOR BOTH FOR JOINING ME HERE IN THE STUDIO TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> OF COURSE.

NOW, CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE 200-YEAR HISTORY AND LEGACY OF THE ERIE CANAL HERE IN NEW YORK STATE?

>> WE AT THE NEW YORK STATE CANAL CORPORATION HAVE SPENT THE PAST YEAR COMMEMORATING 200 YEARS OF THE ERIE CANAL, WHICH REALLY TRANSFORMED NEW YORK STATE AS WE KNOW IT, BY CONNECTING NEW YORK HASH TOW BUFFALO AND BACK AND CREATING 220 COMMUNITIES ALONG ITS BANKS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHAT ROLE DOES THE CANAL PLAY IN NEW YORK'S INDUSTRIAL POWER THROUGH THE YEARS?

>> OF COURSE.

SO THE CANAL WAS REALLY BUILT FOR NOT ONLY THE MOVEMENT OF GOODS BUT ALSO PEOPLE, POPULATIONS, IDEAS.

IT'S OFTEN REFERRED TO AS KIND OF THE INTERNET OF ITS DAY.

SO AROUND INDUSTRIES, YOU'RE SUDDENLY ABLE TO CONNECT WHERE PRODUCTS WERE GROWN AND MANUFACTURED TO THOSE HUGE MARKETS WHERE THEY WOULD BE CONSUMED AND PURCHASED.

SO THE ERIE CANAL PLAYED A TREMENDOUS ROLE IN INDUSTRIALIZING NEW YORK STATE AND, YOU KNOW, AS JACKIE SAID, EVERYTHING FROM THE ATLANTIC OCEAN TO THE GREAT LAKES WAS SUDDENLY CONNECTED AND YOU CAN TRAVEL IN A MATTER OF DAYS RATHER THAN WEEKS, SO IT WAS REALLY TRANSFORMATIVE.

>> WOW.

SO WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE PLANS TO CELEBRATE THE 200-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE CANAL?

>> SURE.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY BUSY YEAR FOR THE CANAL CORPORATION AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE.

THE BUFFALO MARITIME CENTER THIS WEEKEND WILL CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF SENECA CHIEF'S VOYAGE FROM BUFFALO TO NEW YORK HASH HARBOR.

IT MADE 28 STOPS ACROSS THE STATE.

AT EACH STOP, THERE WAS A CEREMONY CALLED THE GATHERING OF THE WATERS, WHERE THEY PLANTED A WHITE PINE AND WATERS IT WITH WATERS THEY COLLECTED FROM EACH STOP ON THE JOURNEY AND WHITE PINE TREE REPRESENTS THE RESILIENCY OF THE SHOSHONE PEOPLE, WHO WERE DISPLACED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ERIE CANAL, AS WELL AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCY AND A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THE ERIE CANAL.

REBECCA, WHAT ELSE?

>> I'D SAY THE BICENTENNIAL IS AS MUCH ABOUT LOOKING BACK AS IT IS LOOKING AHEAD.

SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING BACK AT THE STORY THAT WE ALL LEARNED IN THE FOURTH GRADE IN HISTORY CLASS.

WE'RE TRYING TO TELL MORE VERSIONS OF THAT FROM PERSPECTIVES THAT HAVE MAYBE BEEN UNDERREPRESENTED AND WE'RE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THE ROLE THAT THE CANAL PLAYS IN THE FUTURE FROM ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

>> I WAS JUST BLOWN AWAY TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CANAL AND REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS STILL VERY MUCH UP AND RUNNING TODAY.

SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE USES OF THE CANAL IN PRESENT TODAY, IN TODAY'S WORLD?

>> I WOULD SAY WE'RE STILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NOT EVERYONE KNOWS.

IT'S STILL A VITAL COMMERCIAL SHIPPING CORRIDOR FOR GOODS THAT ARE TOO BIG TO MOVE ON ROAD OR MORE ECONOMICAL TO MOVE BY WATER.

IT'S A VITAL RECREATION WAY AND IT'S AN ACCESSIBLE RECREATION WAY.

IT'S A KEY PLACE FOR PEOPLE OF ANY ABILITY TO COME TO CYCLE AND PADDLE AND EXPLORE.

SO IT'S REALLY KIND OF THE MAIN STREET IN MANY OF THE COMMUNITIES IT GOES THROUGH.

>> WOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

LAST YEAR, WE COUNTED NEARLY 75 BLOCKAGES OF BOATS.

THAT INCLUDES INDUSTRIAL SHIPPING.

IT ALSO INCLUDES RECREATIONAL SHIPPING.

IT IS, AS REBECCA SAID, AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THOSE 220 COMMUNITIES AND THE VISITORS IT ATTRACTS, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH OUR ON THE CANALS PROGRAMMING, WHICH IS THAT FREE PROGRAMMING OFFERED THROUGH PROVIDERS WE PARTNER WITH TO GET PEOPLE RECREATING, WHETHER IT'S PAINTING, CYCLING, HIKING, BIRD WATCHING.

THERE'S REALLY SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

THERE ARE ENDLESS USES AND WAYS TO ENJOY THE CANALS.

>> WHAT DOES THE UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CANAL LOOK LIKE IN A WAY TO PRESERVE, YOU KNOW, ITS STRUCTURE AND ENSURE THAT IT WILL BE AROUND FOR ANOTHER 200 YEARS?

>> WELL, YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT MANAGING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT RANGES ANYWHERE FROM 100 TO 200 YEARS OLD IS CHALLENGING.

WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS SHOWN A STRONG COMMITMENT TO THE CANAL WITH TWO CONSECUTIVE BUDGET YEAR COMMITMENTS OF $50 MILLION FOR CORE CAPITAL, AND WE'RE REALLY WORKING DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ANOTHER 200 YEARS.

SO WATER AND POUNDING STRUCTURES, KEY ELEMENTS IT'S THE LIKE THE LACK AND LIFT BRIDGES, THEY REQUIRE A LOT OF UPKEEP.

WE'RE PRIORITIZING WHERE WE MAKE INVESTMENTS SO WE CAN ENSURE THAT LONGEVITY.

>> HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE PRESERVATION OF THE CANAL WITH, YOU KNOW, THE BENEFITS OF TOURISM AND REVITALIZATION OF THE CANAL?

>> SO WHEN WE INVEST IN CORE INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'RE ALSO THINKING ABOUT SITE ACCESS.

THE CANAL WASN'T ALWAYS VIEWED AS A PUBLIC PARK, BUT IT'S TRANSITIONING IN THAT DIRECTION.

SO WE INVEST IN THOSE CORE STRUCTURES, WE'RE ALSO THINKING ABOUT HOW IS THE COMMUNITY COMING TO THIS SITE?

HOW IS IT BEING USED?

AND CAN WE ENHANCE THAT?

MAKE IT MORE PROMINENT, SAFER, AND REALLY BUILD ON THE CAPITAL THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN THE PORTFOLIO.

>> AND HOW HAS THE SUCCESS OF THE ERIE CANAL, YOU KNOW, INSPIRED OTHER STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO BUILD THEIR OWN CANALS PERHAPS?

>> I WOULD SAY THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CANAL CONSTRUCTION IN THE MODERN ERA.

WE'VE GOT ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS THAT ARE KIND OF PROHIBITIVE TO THAT.

WE DID JUST CONVENE ALMOST 500 VISITORS IN BUFFALO FOR THE WORLD'S CANAL CONFERENCE, AND WE SHARED INNOVATION AND IDEAS WITH INLAND WATERWAY MANAGERS FROM TEN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.

SO I THINK CATEGORICALLY, PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK TO THEIR WATERFRONTS.

THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT WHAT DOES WATERFRONT LIVING MEAN?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR QUALITY OF LIFE AND RECREATION?

THAT'S SOMETHING I SEE GROWING NATIONWIDE.

>> YOU KNOW, LOOKING AHEAD, HOW WILL THE STATE BE APPROACHING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND PRIORITIZING THESE DIFFERENT THINGS?

>> SURE.

I THINK WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR OUR THIRD CENTURY OF OPERATION AND WE ARE PLANNING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT POLLINATOR MEADOWS ACROSS THE CANAL.

SO WE HAVE IDENTIFIED 16-ACRES THAT WE PLAN TO START WORKING ON THIS YEAR, WHICH INVOLVES REDUCED MOWING, WHICH ALSO HELPS OUR STAFF TO FOCUS ON MORE CRITICAL MAINTENANCE NEEDS SO THEY CAN FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION ELSEWHERE, BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND AS IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AND UPGRADED, THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE IT MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY RESILIENT AND THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN OFFER MORE WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY THE CANAL, ENJOY THE WATERWAY, HOW WE CAN MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE.

WE HAVE A LOT IN THE WORKS FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS.

>> WHAT ARE THE PLANS TO CONNECT WITH NEW YORKERS AND ENSURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE WORK THAT THE CORPORATION IS DOING ON A DAY-TO-DAY?

>> I THINK CASTING THE CANAL THROUGH A NOVEL LENS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE'RE GOING INTO OUR FOURTH YEAR OF OUR ARTISAN RESIDENCE PROGRAM.

SO ALLOWING ARTISTS TO DEPICT THOSE INVISIBLE THINGS, LIKE MAINTENANCE THAT YOU MIGHT NOT SEE DAY TO DAY HAS BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT.

THE MEDINA ART TRAIN, WHICH WE'RE SPONSORING, KICKS OFF IN WESTERN NEW YORK NEXT YEAR.

SO DRAWING PEOPLE TO THE CANAL IN NEW AND DIFFERENT WAYS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY REMIND PEOPLE THAT THIS IS AN ASSET THAT BELONGS TO THEM, IT'S THERE FOR THEM.

>> AND WHAT HAS THE RESPONSE BEEN LIKE FROM NEW YORKERS?

>> IT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT TO SEE PEOPLE EMBRACING THE CANAL THAT MAYBE DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT.

IT WAS RIGHT IN THEIR BACKYARD BUT THEY DIDN'T NECESSARILY SEE IT AS A RESOURCE FOR THEM.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS WHOLE PERIOD OF THE BICENTENNIAL UNEARTHED ALL THESE NARRATIVES WE MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE CONSIDERED.

I THINK THAT REALLY HELPS TO BROADEN THE CONVERSATION AND FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THIS AS SOMETHING THAT MATTERS TO THEM IS RELEVANT TO THEIR STORY, TOO.

>> AND EARLIER, YOU MENTIONED THE IMPORTANCE OF STATE FUNDING.

DO YOU THINK THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP WITH THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING?

>> WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL REBUILD PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON RESILIENCY.

THAT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE IN RECENT YEARS.

SOME OF THE FUNDING FOR DAM REHABILITATIONS HAS BEEN RETRACTED, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES MAKE SURE THAT THE SYSTEMS THAT HELP US OPERATE NAVIGATION CAN ALSO BE MADE MORE RESILIENT TO HELP WITH FLOOD MITIGATION AND WATER AS A RESOURCE MORE BROADLY TO HELP US, YOU KNOW, SERVE ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT FACETS OF THE ECONOMY.

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY, BUT WE THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CONNECT WITH US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> IT'S A PLEASURE.

>> WE WERE SPEAKING WITH REBECCA HUGHES AND JACKIE SCHILLINGER OF THE NEW YORK STATE CANAL CORPORATION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AFTER THE ERIE CANAL WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1,825, THEN-GOVERNOR DEWITT CLINTON AND DIGNITARIES SET SAIL ON THE CANAL FOR A HISTORIC VOYAGE USING A BOAT NAMED THE SENECA CHIEF.

TO COMMEMORATE THE 200-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, THE BUFFALO MARITIME CENTER CONSTRUCTED A FULL-SIZED REPLICA OF THAT BOAT TRAVEL ALONG THE CANAL.

FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, WMHT PRODUCER, CATHERINE RAFFERTY, DOVE INTO THE STORIES CONTRIBUTED TO THE GREAT LEGACY OF THE ERIE CANAL FOR A DOCUMENTARY ENTITLED, "REFLECTIONS ON THE ERIE CANAL."

IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE'LL SHARE AN EPISODE FROM THAT DOCUMENTARY SERIES FOCUSED ON THE CREATION OF THE SENECA CHIEF BOAT.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> THE APPEAL OF WOODEN BOATS IS IS SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL THAT'S FUNCTIONAL.

THAT HAS A VERY DEEP APPEAL TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT-- THEY DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT AND THEY ENJOY LEARNING ABOUT HOW THESE THINGS ARE MADE.

THE ERIE CANAL, THAT HAS A MYSTERIOUS APPEAL.

IT'S ALMOST INEXPLICABLE, BUT PEOPLE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, THEY HAVE A FASCINATION WITH IT.

IT'S GOT A LOT OF SYMBOLISM.

IT'S A WATERFRONT WHERE THERE WAS NONE.

IT REPRESENTS CONNECTIVITY.

[ MUSIC ] >> THE FIRST ACTUAL PROPOSAL WE MADE FOR BUILDING A CANAL BOAT IN DOWNTOWN BUFFALO WAS IN 1997.

WE WERE INVOLVED WITH HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND TRYING TO REDEVELOP THE HARBOR.

SO THIS SEEMED LIKE A GREAT METHOD, OR TECHNIQUE, FOR DOING IT, TO BUILD A CANAL BOAT, BECAUSE THIS WAS VERY MUCH A PIECE OF BUFFALO'S HISTORY.

[ MUSIC ] >> NORMALLY ON A SMALL PROJECT, YOU'LL GET SIX OR SEVEN VOLUNTEERS AND BY THE END OF THE PROJECT, YOU'LL PROBABLY HAVE THREE OF THE ORIGINALS (LAUGHING) AND MAYBE TWO OR THREE NEW ONES.

HERE, WE STARTED OUT WITH MAYBE 45 VOLUNTEERS AND BY THE END OF THE PROJECT, 65,000 HOURS LATER, WE HAVE 218 VOLUNTEERS WORKING ON THIS PROJECT OVER A THREE AND A HALF YEAR PERIOD.

AND WE PUT A LOT OF PLANKS-- OVER 200 PLANKS ON THIS BOAT.

THOSE PEOPLE TO PUT ON SOAK TO KEEP WATER OUT.

AND THAT WAS DONE BY VOLUNTEERS.

THAT IS ASTONISHING.

[ MUSIC ] >> IT TOOK A LOT OF RESEARCH TO FIGURE OUT EVEN WHAT TYPE OF BOAT IT WAS AND WHAT IT MIGHT HAVE LOOKED LIKE, AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN THAT STORY BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING-- WE'RE GOING BACK IN TIME AND TAKING ALL THIS RESEARCH AND COMPILING IT INTO SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY NOW SEE REPRESENTING PHYSICALLY.

>> WHEN WE FIRST BEGAN, WE WANTED TO BUILD A BOAT TO COMMEMORATE THE BICENTENNIAL OF THE ERIE CANAL.

WE THOUGHT WE COULD LIFT UP THE CRAFTMANSHIP OF THE DAY AND BRING IT BACK INTO MODERN TIMES, BUT ONCE WE STARTED LOFTING THE BOAT AND ALL THAT STUFF, THE WHOLE PROJECT STARTED TO EXPAND, TO TAKE ON THE STORY OF THE ERIE CANAL AND THE NARRATIVE OF THE ERIE CANAL, AND WE STARTED LEARNING MUCH MORE ABOUT IT, AND THAT WAS LARGELY INSPIRED BY THE NAME OF THE BOAT, SENECA CHIEF.

[ MUSIC ] >> IT'S BEEN AN EDUCATION TO WORK WITH THIS WHOLE PROJECT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE NAME.

NOW WHEN WE FIRST STARTED GOING, WE WERE QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT EVEN WE SHOULD NAME THE BOAT SENECA CHIEF, AND YOU KNOW, WITH TIMES BEING WHAT THEY ARE AND JUST UNDERSTANDING WHY WOULD THEY NAME THIS BOAT?

WE WANTED TO FIND OUT.

WE WANTED TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOME HISTORY OUT THERE THAT SAID THIS BOAT WAS NAMED SENECA CHIEF BECAUSE.

>> BRIAN AND HIS TEAM GOT A HOLD OF ME ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO ASKING ABOUT THE NAME, AND YOU KNOW, I DID MY RESEARCH ON CLINTON OVER MY LIFETIME BECAUSE THAT DISPOSSESSION OF NEW YORK, IT USED TO BE HOLDING SHOSHONE LANDS AND THAT DISPOSSESSION OF LANDS HAS KEPT ME INTERESTED IN STATE HISTORY.

WHEN, IN FACT, I'M NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN STATE HISTORY.

I JUST NEED TO KNOW THAT TO UNDERSTAND THE STORY.

AND SO WHEN BRIAN GOT A HOLD OF ME, YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY-- IT TOOK ME DOWN ANOTHER PATH OF THE CLINTON FAMILY AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND COME TO TERMS WITH, YEAH, WHY DID THEY NAME IT THE SENECA CHIEF?

AND AS FAR AS WE KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT BEING BUILT ON SENECA LAKE.

I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH CLINTON'S INTEREST IN INDIGENOUS CULTURES AND FLORA AND FAUNA OF NEW YORK THAT HE WAS ALSO KIND OF GIVING IT A SENSE OF LIKE HONOR.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING IN THAT.

THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I WANT TO DO IN MY ROLE AS A HISTORIAN AND CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGIST IS TO BEGIN USING THOSE MOMENTS OF THE PAST TO CHANGE OUR PRESENT AND HOPEFULLY OUR FUTURE, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT WITH BRIAN AND THE MARITIME CENTER IS THAT THEY ACTUALLY DO THAT.

AND YOU DON'T SEE IT A LOT.

[ MUSIC ] [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] [ BAGPIPES ] >> THE NAME CAME UP AGAIN WHERE SHOULD WE EVEN USE THIS NAME?

WELL, WE STARTED REALIZING THAT, NUMBER ONE, THE NAME WAS CALLED SENECA CHIEF.

YOU SHOULD NOT CHANGE HISTORY, RIGHT?

BUT WE'VE CHOSEN TO MAKE THIS BOAT AND TO BUILD THIS BOAT.

WHY DID WE DO THAT?

BECAUSE WE DID UNDERSTAND THAT THE BICENTENNIAL IS AN IMPORTANT THING FOR THE UNITED STATES, BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK AND TO BROADEN THE PERSPECTIVE AND BROADEN THE NARRATIVE OF THE ERIE CANAL.

IT'S OUR HOPE THAT AS WE GO DOWN OUR 28 STOPS ALL THE WAY TO NEW YORK CITY, WE ARE GOING TO BE CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITIES ALL ALONG THE WAY IN OUR PORTS TO TALK WITH THEM NOT ONLY ABOUT HOW WE BUILT THIS BOAT BECAUSE THAT'S-- I MEAN, WE ARE A MARITIME FACILITY HERE.

WE'RE A MARITIME MUSEUM.

WE BUILD BOATS, BUT WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE FRONT OF THIS ALMOST HISTORICAL CHANGE THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO CONNECT AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS NOT ONLY ABOUT WHAT THE ERIE CANAL IS AND WAS BUT ALSO ABOUT THE ROLE OF INDIGENOUS CULTURE AND HISTORY THROUGHOUT THIS STORY AS WELL.

>> AND SO IF IT'S GOING TO SERVE A SYMBOLIC PURPOSE, THEN HOW DO WE MAKE IT MORE TANGIBLE FOR THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO DON'T FEEL PART OF IT?

THAT'S A DISCUSSION AND A CONVERSATION BECAUSE THIS IS A CHANCE FOR US TO LEARN FROM THE PAST AND WHERE WE WEREN'T INCLUSIVE IN THE INCLUSION OF OTHER VOICES.

[ SLOW MUSIC ] [ THEME MUSIC ] >> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE REFLECTIONS ON THE ERIE CANAL DOCUMENTARY, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, OUR ELISE KLINE TOOK A DAY TRIP TO EXPERIENCE ONE OF THE TOUR STOPS OF THE REPLICA OF THE SENECA CHIEF IN WATERFORD.

ELISE SPOKE WITH VISITORS AND BOAT CREW MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HISTORIC TOUR AND THE COMPLEX HISTORY OF THE ERIE CANAL.

HERE'S THAT STORY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> STARTING AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2,025, THE SENECA CHIEF SET SAIL AGAIN FOR ITS BICENTENNIAL VOYAGE REPRESENTING THE ORIGINAL BOAT'S FIRST JOURNEY THROUGH THE COMPLETED ERIE CANAL IN 1,825.

THE HANDCRAFTED REPLICA WAS MOVED ALONG BY A TUGBOAT TO 28 STOPS ACROSS THE STATE FROM BUFFALO TO NEW YORK NEW YORK CITY.

BOAT CREW MEMBERS SAY THE JOURNEY HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.

FOR ROGER ALLEN, MASTER BOAT BUILDER AT THE BUFFALO MARITIME CENTER, PULLING INTO WATERFORD, ONE OF THE LAST STOPS, WAS ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIONAL MOMENTS OF HIS LIFE.

>> I'VE BEEN DOING PUBLIC BOAT BUILDING SINCE ABOUT 1978 AND THIS IS PROBABLY MY LAST PROJECT.

I'M 75.

IT WAS VERY EMOTIONAL FOR ME AND I HAVE A GOOD TEN YEARS INTO THE PROJECT ALTOGETHER.

>> GREG DUDLEY, BOAT BUILDING PROGRAMS DIRECTOR AT THE BUFFALO MARITIME CENTER, HIGHLIGHTS THIS BOAT REPRESENTS LIKELY ONE OF THE LARGEST COMMUNITY BOAT BUILDING PROJECTS IN RECENT HISTORY.

>> WE HAND-SHAPED EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF THIS BOAT AND WHEN I SAY WE, I'M TALKING ABOUT MYSELF, ONE OTHER PROFESSIONAL BOAT BUILDER, AND THEN 220 VOLUNTEERS, WHO GAVE THEIR TIME FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.

SO WE'VE FOUND THAT THERE'S ABOUT 50,000 HOURS OF LABOR THAT WENT INTO THIS BOAT.

>> DUDLEY, WHO ALSO HELPED CAPTAIN THE BOAT, SAYS THERE WERE ONLY A FEW CHALLENGES TRAVELING THE CANAL WITH SOME INSTANCES OF STRUGGLING TO SMOOTHLY GO THROUGH THE ERIE CANAL LOCKS.

WHEN THE BOAT PULLED INTO WATERFORD, IT WAS MET WITH A CHEERING CROWD.

THE FOLLOWING DAY, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC LINED UP TO TAKE A LOOK INSIDE THE HISTORIC REPLICA.

BUT FIRST, STUDENTS GOT TO HAVE A SPECIAL LOOK.

AROUND 10:00 A.M., THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADERS FROM VAN SCHAIK GRADE SCHOOL ARRIVED.

ONE OF THEIR TEACHERS, ANNA MUSCATELLO, SAYS HER FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THE ERIE CANAL ALL YEAR, BUT THIS FIELD TRIP WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THEM SOME OF THAT HISTORY.

>> IN OUR CURRICULUM, WE DO TALK ABOUT THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, THE NATIVE AMERICANS, SEEING THE MOCCASINS, SEEING THE REPLICAS ON THE BOAT, AND BEING ABLE TO REALLY SAY, OH, MY GOODNESS, THEY DIDN'T HAVE ELECTRICITY.

LOOK THERE'S THESE TOOLS THAT THEY USED AND THE TREES RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR BACKYARD TO BUILD CANOES.

AND THEY GET TO SEE PARTS OF THAT ON THE BOAT.

>> THE STUDENTS TOURED THE BOAT IN GROUPS, MESMARIZED BY A VARIETY OF HISTORICAL PIECES.

FIFTH GRADER SAVANNAH HINDS SAYS SHE LOVED BEING ABLE TO GO ON THE BOAT.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY FUN.

AND I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS GOING TO BE LIKE THIS.

I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING LIKE-- I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE ON THE BOAT, SO I WAS REALLY HAPPY THAT WE GOT TO GO ON THE BOAT.

>> MARK TOWNSEND, ALSO A FIFTH GRADER, ENJOYED LEARNING NEW THINGS LIKE HOW THE BOAT HAS A SECTION WHERE VISITORS CAN SLEEP.

>> I SAW WHERE THEY SLEEP AND WHAT THEY EAT, AND I EXPERIENCED LIKE HOW THEY TURN THE BOAT AND STUFF.

>> THE STUDENTS ALSO GOT TO HELP THE BOAT CREW MEMBERS PLANT A CEREMONY TREE.

EACH STOP OF THE VOYAGE, THE CREW MEMBERS, ALONG WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, PLANTED A TREE AND WATERED IT WITH A BARREL OF WATER THEY'VE COLLECTED FROM EACH PORT.

THE WATER BARREL SYMBOLIZES THE WEDDING OF WATERS, MUCH LIKE WHEN GOVERNOR DEWITT CLINTON BROUGHT HIS BARREL OF WATER FROM BUFFALO TO NEW YORK CITY ON THE FIRST JOURNEY THROUGH THE COMPLETED ERIE CANAL.

AND THE TREE IS A SYMBOL OF THE FUTURE.

STUDENTS LIKE FOURTH GRADER VINCENT PASQUARELL WERE ABSOLUTELY THRILLED TO HELP WITH THE TREE PLANTING PROCESS.

>> I ACTUALLY GOT TO HELP A LITTLE BIT, LOOSENING THE ROOTS, PUTTING IT IN, PUTTING SOIL ON AND WATERING IT.

>> OTHER STUDENTS LIKE NINE-YEAR-OLD JOYCELYN ROBINSON AGREED.

>> I DID THINK THAT WHEN WE GOT TO PLANT THE TREE, THAT WAS VERY FUN, AND I GOT TO PAT DOWN THE DIRT.

>> DEB FITZGERALD, A SUPPORT TEACHER AT VAN SCHAIK GRADE SCHOOL, SAYS THEY FEEL VERY FORTUNATE TO BRING THE KIDS ON THIS FIELD TRIP.

>> IT'S NOT SOMETHING LIKE OTHER FIELD TRIPS WHERE YOU CAN GO ANY TIME.

THIS IS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME.

WE TALKED TODAY.

THERE'S ONLY 1,200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CANAL, AND WE GET TO BE A PART OF IT NOW.

SO IT'S JUST VERY SPECIAL.

>> CHELSEA MOORE, EDUCATION DIRECTOR AT THE BUFFALO MARITIME CENTER, SAYS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH THE TOUR WAS LOGISTICALLY COORDINATING SCHOOL GROUPS TO VISIT.

WATERFORD WAS ONE OF ONLY A FEW STOPS THAT HAD A STUDENT FIELD TRIP VISIT.

MOORE SAYS THE ERIE CANAL BOAT IS A VESSEL TO TEACH KIDS A WIDE VARIETY OF HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES.

>> IF YOU ARE AN ENGINEER, YOU CAN TELL STUDENTS EVERYTHING ABOUT LOCKS AND THE ENGINEERING OF THE ERIE CANAL AND THE FEET AND MARVEL THAT IT IS.

IF YOU ARE A BIOLOGIST OR AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST, YOU CAN TELL THEM ABOUT AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES AND GENERALLY THE IMPACT OF THE ERIE CANAL, THE DRAINAGE OF WETLANDS, DEFORESTATION.

IF YOU ARE A BOAT BUILDER, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT CANAL BOATS, THE TRANSPORTATION HIGHWAY THAT THE ERIE CANAL IS, SO IT'S REALLY AN INTERESTING LIVING EXHIBIT.

>> OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ALSO GOT TO LEARN AND SEE THIS PIECE OF HISTORY UP CLOSE.

SUSAN LYNN THOMPSON, A SARAH TOGA COUNTY RESIDENT, HAS BEEN TO TWO OF THE TOUR STOPS, BUT SHE DIDN'T GET TO GO ON THE BOAT UNTIL IT ARRIVED IN WATERFORD.

>> I ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT THE GLASS, WHERE THEY GOT THE GLASS FROM BECAUSE THE GLASS LOOKS PERIOD TO 1,825, AND THEY SAID THEY SOURCEED THE GLASS FROM GERMANY BECAUSE CORNING WAS TOO EXPENSIVE, AND THEY DONATED THE GLASS.

THE COMPANY IN GERMANY DONATED THE GLASS, SO THAT WAS KIND OF FUN TO LEARN.

>> THE SENECA CHIEF BOAT HAS TOURED ALL OVER NEW YORK STATE.

VISITORS TELL ME IT WAS REALLY EXCITING TO ACTUALLY GO ON THE BOAT AND SEE THIS PART OF HISTORY UP CLOSE.

BOAT CREW MEMBERS SAY THIS WHOLE TOUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN REALLY INCREDIBLE, HOPING THE HISTORICAL TOUR WILL INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION TO PRESERVE THE CANAL AND ITS COMPLEX HISTORY.

ELISE KLINE, "NEW YORK NOW."

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