Our Mission

Welcome to the Lake Erie Seaway Trail Center (LESTC) Center located on the beautiful shoreline of Lake Erie and the NYS DEC Birding Trail. The Friends of the Lake Erie Seaway Trail Center, Inc. is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, that supports and operates the town of Hamburg owned Seaway Trail Center. We care for the building and grounds to provide a welcoming public space that offers visitors waterfront access, arts and
educational exhibits, and events that focus on environmental awareness and education, the natural history of the region, Lake Erie maritime heritage, and the cultural and historical attractions of the area. We serve the community to provide a comfortable and beautiful resting place for visitors to admire the beauty and understand the importance of the environmental sustainability of the freshwater of the Great Lakes. We were founded in 2005 by then Town of Hamburg Council Member Kathy Hochul, as a tourist center to franchise under the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Organization. Grant monies were obtained and used to update, enhance, and transform the building from the prior Wanakah Waterworks building into a Visitor center to promote tourism. The LESTC provides a unique venue for students and community members to participate in classes, workshops, art exhibits, and speaker events. We also offer a conference room for public use. Students and the community can interact with various facets of Lake Erie through the center - including its ecology and history. We have partnered with the Frontier Central School Big Picture Academy, working with their students to provide enhancements and introduce educational displays at the center for the community to enjoy.