Interactive, Multimedia Exhibits at the Longshed Building will Welcome Visitors During 2025 Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemoration

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation Board of Directors met today and authorized The Buffalo History Museum to transition its role from content creation and experience development to providing operational and support services for “Waterway of Change: A Complex Legacy of the Erie Canal,” a new Erie Canal bicentennial visitor experience set to open in May 2025 at Canalside in Buffalo.  While acting as ECHDC’s operational partner, the Museum will also foster curiosity and engagement across Canalside, from historic ruins and canal thresholds to the replica of the Erie Canal terminus, while sourcing, supplying, and operating a gift shop.  Governor Kathy Hochul announced the “Waterway of Change” experience earlier this year.  

“Waterway of Change will be the premier attraction at Canalside when we mark the historic 200th anniversary of the opening of the Erie Canal in Buffalo next year,” said ECHDC Chairperson Joan Kesner. “We could not ask for a more competent partner to operate this visitor experience center than the Buffalo History Museum, which has been sharing stories for more than a century and half that demonstrate Buffalo’s essential place in shaping history.”

“The Erie Canal’s story is one of ingenuity, resilience, and transformation, shaped by countless voices and experiences across generations,” said Melissa Brown, Executive Director of The Buffalo History Museum. “With Waterway of Change, we aim to highlight the diverse perspectives that connect people to Buffalo’s waterfront history—from the Haudenosaunee’s stewardship of this land to the innovations of the Canal era—encouraging visitors to see this history as a living force that continues to shape our region and its future.”

The 2,900-square-foot “Waterway of Change,” currently under construction for installation in the Longshed, will serve as a dynamic gathering space and starting point for visitors beginning their Bicentennial Commemoration experience. The exhibit will trace Canalside’s history, beginning with its significance as the ancestral land of the Haudenosaunee and acknowledging the impacts of their displacement. Visitors will also experience how the area transformed from a rural village at the time the Erie Canal opened in 1825 to a bustling 19th-century port and shipping hub. “Waterway of Change” will include interactive multimedia exhibits for visitors of all ages and abilities, sharing Buffalo’s Erie Canal story in an inclusive way using short films, touch screens, audio, historical artifacts, and dramatic lighting.  A series of outdoor interpretive elements will also be created at towpaths along and around the canals. Renderings are available here.

New York Power Authority Chairman and Buffalo Resident John R. Koelmel said, “The Erie Canal played a pivotal role in transforming New York into a hub of commerce and trade, and its construction had a profound impact on the cultural identity of New York State.  NYPA is proud to support Waterway of Change, which will help connect visitors to Buffalo’s waterfront as we collectively commemorate the bicentennial of the Erie Canal.”

Staffing and administrative support for Waterway of Change will be provided from The Buffalo History Museum’s north Buffalo location at One Museum Court in Buffalo.  The Museum’s role as ECHDC’s operational partner will drive year-round activation at Canalside. The Museum plans to create unique guided experiences both inside the new visitor center and outdoors, at the ruins, thresholds, and replica Canal terminus.  Programming will be geared toward all ages and abilities, including sensory friendly quiet hours, tours for school groups of all ages, and tour bus experiences for adults. The rich, multifaceted history and significance of the Erie Canal story will inspire a variety of activities, talks, and programs for diverse audiences, complementing core exhibits. These offerings will engage visitors and encourage locals to return for new experiences.

A tailored approach to the Museum’s “The Museum Shop,” a long-standing guest experience at the north Buffalo location, will be created to complement the unique Canalside experience. The shop will cater to tourists and locals alike, with branded merchandise for EC2025@Canalside offered at Canalside, the north Buffalo location, and the Museum’s online store. Profits will be shared equally between the Museum and ECHDC, with ECHDC’s portion allocated to a dedicated fund for the ongoing enhancement of the Waterway of Change starting in 2025.

The contract amount for the operational and support services of “Waterway of Change” is not to exceed $398,878 and the contract runs through December 31, 2025.

For more information on Waterway of Change and the Erie Canal Bicentennial, visit the recently launched Erie Canal Bicentennial website at www.eriecanalturns200.com and follow Erie Canal Turns 200 on social media for posts and updates: 

• Facebook - Erie Canal Turns 200 - @ErieCanalTurns200 
• Instagram - @eriecanalturns200 - @ErieCanalTurns200 
• TikTok - @eriecanalturns200 - @ErieCanalTurns200 

The ECHDC Board also approved these two actions:

• Authorized ECHDC to enter into a $890,150 contract with Queen City Bike Ferry, Inc. for Buffalo waterfront ferry operation services with a contract term of April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2030. 
• Authorized ECHDC to enter into a contract term amendment to the wayfinding signage consultant agreement with ASI Signage Innovations. The amendment term is through May 31, 2025.

Funding for all these contracts is from the New York Power Authority, through relicensing agreements tied to the operation of the Niagara Power Project.

About Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) is governed by a nine-member board consisting of seven voting directors and two non-voting, ex-officio directors. The seven voting directors are recommended by the New York State Governor and are appointed by the New York State Urban Development Corporation d/b/a Empire State Development as sole shareholder of ECHDC. The two non-voting, ex-officio director positions are held by the Erie County Executive and the City of Buffalo Mayor.

As a subsidiary of Empire State Development, the state’s chief economic development agency, the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation supports and promotes the creation of infrastructure and public activities at Canalside, the Ohio Street corridor and the Outer Harbor that is attracting critical mass, private investment and enhance the enjoyment of the waterfront for residents and tourists in Western New York. Its vision is to revitalize Western New York’s waterfront and restore economic growth to Buffalo based on the region’s legacy of pride, urban significance, and natural beauty.

Contact: 
Pamm Lent | [email protected] | (716) 846-8309 | (800) 260-7313
Laura Magee | [email protected] | (716) 846-8239 | (800) 260-7313