Photo by Greenwald Productions Galveston Historical.
During Sail250, the largest flotilla of tall ships in history, one historic ship stood out in particular.
In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, New York Harbor became the center of one of the world’s largest maritime celebrations: Sail250. The event gathered a stunning fleet of tall ships from around the world for a weeklong celebration of America’s heritage. Visitors were given the rare opportunity to step aboard ships that have lasted for generations.
One ship stood apart not only for its age, but for its story: the 1877 Tall Ship Elissa. The vessel is the oldest ship participating in Sail250 and one of only three of her kind in the world that still actively sails. Designated the Official Tall Ship of Texas and a National Historic Landmark, Elissa welcomes over 40,000 visitors each year as both a museum and a working ship.
The Journey to New York
This July marked the ship’s return to New York after 40 years. Elissa first visited the city almost 200 years ago in 1884, before returning in 1986 for a Statue of Liberty celebration. Her recent voyage to New York offers a unique opportunity for visitors to experience old-world sailing.
In 1986, Elissa’s made a visit to NYC’s harbor. Credit unknown.
I recently visited the Brooklyn Bride Marina to experience sailing aboard Elissa for DOWNTOWN. During the sunset sail, I spoke with Will Wright, the Interim Executive Director of Galveston Historical Foundation, the organization behind the ship. “GHF is one of the largest historical nonprofits in the United States. We work with heritage tourism, house museums, ships, properties, and more,” he explained.
Throughout the evening, Wright stressed the importance of community. “[There’s] great energy in people coming together to enjoy something unique. This isn’t something that’s common-to be able to be aboard a ship built in 1877 that actively sails. There’s only three ships that still do this.” That community was on full display throughout Sail250 as crews from around the world came to New York Harbor and welcomed visitors aboard.
Elissa and her pivotal role along Galveston’s Historic Waterfront
Elissa now calls Galveston, Texas home. In the early 1970s, local leaders and preservationists were searching for a way to revamp Galveston’s Strand Historic District and waterfront. “Part of that idea was to find a vessel that could be an anchor for that development. And Elissa checked the boxes,” Wright explained. “The preservation, the money, and the effort that we put towards maintaining a vessel like this is a huge effort,” Wright said. “But Elissa is a great reason to put in that effort.”
Dedicated Volunteers
Equally important is the volunteer crew that keeps the ship sailing. Unlike many ships, Elissa is operated by dedicated volunteers. “Elissa is crewed by a volunteer crew, and that volunteer training program is a nationally recognized system of excellence in how you train crew to go sail,” Wright exclaimed.
For Sail250, however, that commitment extended far beyond weekend training. “People are putting their life on hold to come be a part of something because they realize the significance of it,” Wright said. “It really is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing.” Without that dedication, he noted, Elissa would never have made the journey to New York: “We would not be able to do this if it weren’t for a crew that is willing to assist.”
As Sail250 celebrated America’s 250th anniversary, the event demonstrated that sailing history is not confined to the classroom. Historic vessels continue to cross oceans and communities that connect the past with the present. Few ships embody that mission more completely than Elissa. While nearly 150 years old, the ship retains the ability to sail, proving that with enough care, dedication, and support, anything is possible.
Image: llumine Photographic Services
If you missed Elissa’s visit to New York, the ship will continue its Sail250 celebration in Boston, MA (July 11-15), Savannah, GA (July 23-26), and Pensacola, FL (August 6-9).