October 24, 2025 • 26 mins
New York State is celebrating the Erie Canal's bicentennial anniversary. We discuss the history and legacy of the Erie Canal with Rebecca Hughes and Jackie Schillinger of the NYS Canal Corporation. To commemorate the anniversary, the Buffalo Maritime Center has constructed a full-sized replica of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief to travel on the canal. We take a trip to one of the tour stops in Waterford. WMHT Producer Catherine Rafferty shares an episode of her Reflections on the Erie Canal documentary series.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(00:05):
>> 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
(00:26):
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 ]
(00:53):
>> 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.
(01:14):
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
(01:35):
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
(01:58):
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
(02:20):
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?
(02:40):
>> 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
(03:02):
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
(03:22):
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
(03:43):
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
(04:04):
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
(04:27):
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
(04:48):
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
(05:09):
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
(05:29):
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.
(05:50):
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
(06:10):
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
(06:32):
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
(06:52):
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
(07:14):
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
(07:35):
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
(07:56):
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
(08:17):
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
(08:39):
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
(09:00):
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
(09:20):
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
(09:41):
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
(10:02):
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
(10:23):
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.
(10:45):
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
(11:06):
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
(11:27):
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
(11:48):
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,
(12:10):
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.
(12:30):
[ 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
(12:52):
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.
(13:21):
[ 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
(13:42):
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
(14:03):
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.
(14:24):
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
(14:46):
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
(15:06):
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
(15:26):
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 ]
(15:47):
>> 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.
(16:08):
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,
(16:28):
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
(16:50):
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
(17:13):
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
(17:35):
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 ]
(18:00):
[ 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?
(18:22):
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
(18:42):
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
(19:03):
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
(19:24):
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 ]
(19:46):
[ 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.
(20:07):
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
(20:27):
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
(20:47):
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
(21:09):
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
(21:30):
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
(21:50):
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
(22:11):
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.
(22:32):
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
(22:53):
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
(23:16):
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.
(23:36):
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
(23:59):
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
(24:20):
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.
(24:40):
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
(25:01):
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
(25:22):
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
(25:42):
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."
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THE LEGACY AND THE IMPACT
OF THE ERIE CANAL, YOU CAN VISIT
OUR.
AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
(26:05):
YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR
NEWSLETTER BY GOING TO
NEWSLETTER.NYNOW.ORG, OR BY
SCANNING THE QR CODE ON YOUR
SCREEN.
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW".
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:42):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(00:05):
>> 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
(00:26):
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 ]
(00:53):
>> 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.
(01:14):
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
(01:35):
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
(01:58):
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
(02:20):
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?
(02:40):
>> 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
(03:02):
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
(03:22):
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
(03:43):
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
(04:04):
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
(04:27):
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
(04:48):
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
(05:09):
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
(05:29):
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.
(05:50):
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
(06:10):
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
(06:32):
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
(06:52):
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
(07:14):
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
(07:35):
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
(07:56):
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
(08:17):
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
(08:39):
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
(09:00):
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
(09:20):
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
(09:41):
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
(10:02):
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
(10:23):
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.
(10:45):
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
(11:06):
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
(11:27):
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
(11:48):
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,
(12:10):
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.
(12:30):
[ 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
(12:52):
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.
(13:21):
[ 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
(13:42):
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
(14:03):
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.
(14:24):
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
(14:46):
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
(15:06):
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
(15:26):
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 ]
(15:47):
>> 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.
(16:08):
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,
(16:28):
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
(16:50):
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
(17:13):
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
(17:35):
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 ]
(18:00):
[ 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?
(18:22):
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
(18:42):
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
(19:03):
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
(19:24):
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 ]
(19:46):
[ 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.
(20:07):
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
(20:27):
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
(20:47):
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
(21:09):
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
(21:30):
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
(21:50):
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
(22:11):
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.
(22:32):
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
(22:53):
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
(23:16):
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.
(23:36):
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
(23:59):
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
(24:20):
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.
(24:40):
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
(25:01):
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
(25:22):
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
(25:42):
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."
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THE LEGACY AND THE IMPACT
OF THE ERIE CANAL, YOU CAN VISIT
OUR.
AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
(26:05):
YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR
NEWSLETTER BY GOING TO
NEWSLETTER.NYNOW.ORG, OR BY
SCANNING THE QR CODE ON YOUR
SCREEN.
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW".
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:42):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
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