Many thanks to Bruce Schwendy for sending along these photos from Canalside in Buffalo this morning. What comes to mind are the words from Stone’s Narrative of the Festivities … written 200 years ago.

To wit, On “the appointed day, the [canalside area] thronged with the yeomanry of the country [and beyond from around the world], who, alive to the subject, had assembled in vast numbers to witness the attendant ceremonies of the departure of the first boat.” 

Welcome to the Erie Canal at the beginning of this bicentennial journey.

Many thanks to Bruce for capturing this moment, the outcome of the vision of the Buffalo Maritime Center.