A nearly 150-year-old Texas landmark will return to Galveston after a three-month voyage along the U.S. East Coast as part of the nation’s 250th-anniversary celebrations.
The 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA is scheduled to arrive at Galveston’s Pier 21 on Saturday, August 15, with the public invited to a free homecoming gathering from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Galveston Historical Foundation says the ship’s arrival is expected around noon.
ELISSA’s Long Journey Home
ELISSA left Galveston in June for a voyage connected to Sail250, a national maritime celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.
ELISSA made stops in Pensacola, Savannah, New York City, and Boston during the voyage, with the original itinerary also including port calls in Yorktown and Portsmouth, Virginia.
The voyage was particularly significant because ELISSA is not a replica. Built in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1877, the three-masted iron barque served as a commercial cargo vessel before eventually being rescued from a Greek scrapyard and restored by the Galveston Historical Foundation.
Built in Scotland in 1877, ELISSA is a National Historic Landmark and the Official Tall Ship of Texas. The Galveston Historical Foundation says it is one of only three pre-20th-century sailing vessels in the world restored to full sailing capacity.
The ship also has a previous connection to major national celebrations. According to the Sail4th 250 parade program, ELISSA participated in New York’s 1986 celebration commemorating the centennial of the Statue of Liberty.
A Three-Month, 6,000-Nautical-Mile Voyage
ELISSA’s return follows a three-month voyage planned as part of Galveston 250. The Galveston Historical Foundation describes the expedition as a 6,000-nautical-mile journey that included multiple port stops and appearances during the nation’s 250th-anniversary celebrations.
The ship participated in major maritime events, including the July 4 Sail4th 250 celebration in New York Harbor. It later continued to Boston before heading south toward Texas.
The trip marked ELISSA’s first visit to New York since 1986, according to previous reporting by the Houston Chronicle. During the July 4 celebration, ELISSA sailed into New York Harbor alongside other tall ships participating in Sail4th 250.
The Galveston Historical Foundation had prepared ELISSA for the extended voyage following maintenance work, including replacement of the ship’s jibboom, installation of a new fore-topmast sail, and installation of a new diesel engine.
Public Homecoming Set for Saturday
The public homecoming will take place at Pier 21, 2100 Harborside Drive, in Galveston.
The Galveston Historical Foundation’s volunteer page lists the homecoming watch party for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, with activities planned around the ship’s arrival.
The foundation’s Galveston Historic Seaport information page confirms that ELISSA has been unavailable for regular tours while participating in the Galveston 250 voyage.
The return also comes as Galveston continues its 2026 programming tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary. The city’s tourism organization describes ELISSA’s voyage as part of Galveston’s effort to highlight its maritime history during the anniversary year.
What Happens After ELISSA Returns?
ELISSA is expected to resume its role at the Galveston Historic Seaport following the voyage, where visitors can normally tour the historic vessel and learn about Galveston’s maritime and immigration history.
The Galveston Historical Foundation says ELISSA is operated as part of the Galveston Historic Seaport and continues to serve as a working historic sailing vessel rather than a stationary museum exhibit.
The ship’s return also comes ahead of additional ELISSA-related programming. The foundation is scheduled to hold an orientation for prospective sail-training volunteers on September 26, with participants potentially qualifying to sail aboard the historic vessel after completing the program and required maintenance hours.
For Galveston, Saturday’s arrival marks the end of a rare journey for a ship that has spent nearly 150 years moving through maritime history — and will now return to the Texas coast after representing the state at one of the nation’s largest 250th-anniversary maritime celebrations.
Provided by Dallas Express
