Texas 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA Joins SAIL250 Voyage

Galveston Historical Foundation leads living-history mission to six East Coast ports and the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships celebrating America250.

The Official Tall Ship of Texas, the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA, will set sail from Galveston this May to join Sail250, a global gathering of tall ships and military ships celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. ELISSA, a National Historic Landmark and one of the few 19th century tall ships still under sail, will lead fellow Class A tall ships into New York Harbor on July 4, joining the largest-ever flotilla of historic vessels and sailing ships from around the world. Along the way, ELISSA will visit Pensacola, Savannah, Yorktown, Portsmouth, New York City, and Boston on a three month voyage.

Organized and led by Galveston Historical Foundation (“GHF”), a nonprofit organization that owns and operates the ship, the voyage marks ELISSA’s first return to New York in nearly 40 years; she last visited in 1986 for OpSail, held in honor of the Statue of Liberty’s centennial and the 210th anniversary of American independence. Built in 1877 by Alexander Hall & Co. in Aberdeen, Scotland, ELISSA is a three-masted, iron hulled barque and one of the few authentic 19th century tall ships still actively sailing today.

Carrying 19 sails that cover more than one-quarter of an acre, ELISSA measures 205 feet from stern to jibboom and stands 99 feet, 9 inches at the main mast. Unlike many vessels seen at waterfront festivals, ELISSA is not a replica, but a surviving merchant ship whose 90-year commercial career took her to ports around the world before she was rescued from a scrapyard in Piraeus Harbor, Greece, by Galveston preservationists determined to save her.

“ELISSA is not simply traveling to commemorate a milestone, she is doing what she was built to do—connect communities through maritime history,” said Will Wright, chief creative officer for GHF. “This project reflects decades of stewardship and investment, and it reinforces our commitment to ensuring that Galveston’s history continues to be told on a national stage.”

Six Ports, One Historic Mission

Before and after the America 250 festivities in New York, ELISSA will make a series of strategic port calls, bringing her story, crew, and a fully authentic 19th century square rigged sailing experience to coastal communities along the Eastern Seaboard. Planned port calls include Pensacola, Florida, May 23–24; Savannah, Georgia, June 5–6; Yorktown, Virginia, June 12–14; Portsmouth, Virginia, June 19–22; New York, New York, July 3–7; and Boston, Massachusetts, July 11–15.

At each stop, GHF will activate ELISSA as a traveling classroom and cultural ambassador through public deck tours, Salute to Sunset parties, and special sailing events, as well as appearances at premier tall ship festivals and waterfront celebrations. These programs are intended to connect audiences not only to a milestone in American history, but also to the living traditions of seamanship, preservation, and maritime storytelling that ELISSA represents.

A Living Ambassador

Today, ELISSA is a fully functional sailing vessel operated by GHF at the Galveston Historic Seaport. Unlike many tall ships that sail as commercial attractions, ELISSA is owned and operated as a nonprofit endeavor. For nearly 50 years, GHF has led the ship’s rescue, restoration, and ongoing management and continues to invest in the preservation, maintenance, and crew training required to keep this important vessel alive, seaworthy, and under sail.  She continues to sail annually during Gulf Coast sea trials and welcomes thousands of visitors each year for tours, education programs, and special events interpreting Galveston’s role in maritime trade, immigration, and U.S. history.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Port of Galveston served as a major immigration gateway to the United States, particularly for arrivals from Europe and Latin America. Before Ellis Island opened in 1892, large numbers of immigrants disembarked in Galveston and then continued inland by rail to Texas and other regions of the country. ELISSA’s interpretive programs help connect this broader immigration and maritime history to contemporary audiences, linking the ship’s 19th century working life with Galveston’s role as a historic port city.

The ELISSA’s sailing crew includes eight paid officers and staff and approximately 34 trained volunteers when underway, reflecting the extraordinary level of commitment required to keep a vessel of her age active and seaworthy. GHF credits its award-winning volunteer program—and the organization’s ongoing investment in training, maintenance, and maritime preservation—as the reason ELISSA remains a working ship rather than a static museum exhibit, preserving both the vessel and the skills needed to sail her for future generations.

“For Galveston, the America 250 voyage is both a national showcase and a statement of identity,” said Dwayne Jones, executive director and chief executive officer for GHF. “As a historic port city whose story is deeply tied to maritime commerce, immigration, and coastal life, Galveston will be represented on a global stage by a vessel that has become one of its most visible and meaningful ambassadors.”

Booking, Tickets and More Information

Tickets for deck tours, Salute to Sunset parties, and on‑board sailing experiences along ELISSA’s America 250 route are available at Galveston250.com. Dates and times are subject to change based on weather and port conditions.

For more information on GHF and the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA, visit GalvestonHistory.org or follow @galvestonhistory and @galveston250 on social media.