Tall Ship Elissa comes home to Galveston after historic voyage to New York for America's 250th anniversary

GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) -- After a history-making voyage to New York for America's 250th anniversary festivities, the Tall Ship Elissa returned home to Galveston's port on Saturday.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Historic ship sets off from Galveston to New York for event celebrating America's 250th anniversary

The completed voyage was 5,000 miles and lasted a historic 66 days, organizers said. Elissa traveled to New York for the Sail4th celebration marking America's 250th birthday. Event officials described the Sail4th event as the largest-ever flotilla of historic ships from around the globe. Organizers said the tall ship also made stops in Boston, Savannah, and Pensacola.

Elissa's voyage was organized by the Galveston Historical Foundation, which owns and operates the ship. Organizers said the 149-year-old ship was sailed with eight officers and staff members, as well as 34 trained volunteers.

“Elissa's return to Galveston is a proud and meaningful moment for our city and for Texas,” Interim Executive Director of GHF Will Wright said. “Since her departure in June, she showed the country what generations of stewardship, skilled seamanship, and committed volunteers can make possible. She returned home not simply as a ship completing a voyage, but as a living symbol of our state’s maritime story and of how Galveston brings its history to life for visitors through its historic waterfront.”

The tall ship, built in 1877, is a National Historic Landmark and is a recognizable icon of Galveston's port. Elissa is the official tall ship of Texas and had not made an extensive voyage since 1986. With a refurbishment in 2014, the Texas tall ship remains one of the world's oldest sailing vessels still in operation.

While Elissa's voyage is complete, visitors will be able to take daily tours of the tall ship at the Galveston Historic Seaport starting later in August. Organizers also said they are planning special day sail series for October and next spring as they build momentum for Elissa's 150th birthday in 2027.

“For nearly 150 years, ELISSA has endured because generations of people believed she was worth saving, maintaining, and sailing,” Wright said. “Her 2026 voyage reaffirmed that commitment and made clear that some of her greatest chapters are still ahead.”