AMERICA 250: Historic ship to embark on journey from Galveston to New York

GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The historic Tall Ship Elissa is preparing to set sail on its biggest voyage in four decades.

The 1877 vessel, built in Scotland and now one of Galveston's most recognizable symbols, is expected to depart on Memorial Day for New York Harbor, where it will take part in the Sail4th celebration marking America's 250th birthday.

Captain Sam Sikkema serves as Master of the 1877 Tall Ship Elissa.

"Obviously, we need to make sure the ship is safe. We need to make sure the ship is ready to go," Sikkema said. "There's a lot of preparation, a lot of training, it's a complex operation that is just reaching its peak."

Elissa, the official tall ship of Texas and a fixture on the city's seal, has not made an extensive voyage since 1986. Now, 40 years later, the ship will once again head out to sea as part of an international gathering of some of the world's most iconic tall ships and naval vessels.

Will Wright is the Chief Creative Officer for the Galveston Historical Foundation.

"Elissa, over the course of three months, is going to visit six different ports, and that's going to be a mixture of festivals and ports of calls," Wright said. "New York is the headliner of it. It's the Fourth of July in New York City on a Saturday. We're going to be sailing, we're going to have a party right underneath the fireworks setting off."

According to Sail4th organizers, the event continues a tradition of milestone maritime celebrations, including the 1976 Bicentennial and the Statue of Liberty Centennial in 1986.

For Galveston, Elissa's voyage is a chance for a beloved symbol of the island's maritime history to take center stage in a once-in-a-generation national celebration.