Tall Ship Elissa Concludes Epic 2,500-Mile Journey

The historic Tall Ship Elissa returned to Galveston on Saturday, concluding its extensive three-month Galveston 250 Voyage. This significant journey, covering approximately 2,500 miles, was undertaken to represent Galveston and Texas during America's 250th anniversary celebrations. Elissa's voyage included prominent stops in New York City and Boston, marking its first visit to New York since 1986.

Before its departure in June, the 205-foot, three-masted iron barque underwent crucial drydock work. This included the installation of a new jibboom, a fore-topmast sail, and a new diesel engine, preparing it for its longest extended voyage in decades. The ship led a fleet of Class A tall ships into New York Harbor on July 4th.

Built in 1877, Elissa is a rare piece of maritime history, being one of the few surviving 19th-century tall ships that still actively sails. Rescued from a scrapyard in Greece, it was brought to Texas in 1978 by the Galveston Historical Foundation. Following extensive restoration, it transformed into a working museum and symbol of Galveston's maritime heritage, serving as the Official Tall Ship of Texas and a National Historic Landmark.