America 250’s Sail 250 celebrations ongoing

By Bethany Blankley
The Center Square

Texas is making history participating in America 250 and Sail 250 events.

The 1877 ELISSA, a square-rigged iron barque, the official Tall Ship of Texas, is participating in Sail 250 events along with other tall ships.

Sail 250 is a global gathering of tall ships and military ships porting in several U.S. cities to celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial. More than 60 ships in an international fleet are participating.

America 250’s Sail 250 celebrations began in New Orleans Memorial Day weekend. International ships first ported in the Gulf city from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, the Netherlands, Peru, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Uruguay, The Center Square reported.

Sail 250 ships next celebrated in Norfolk, Virginia, and Baltimore, Maryland. They are celebrating July 4 in New York City. Celebrations will conclude in Boston, the birthplace of the American Revolution, from July 11-16.

At the time of the American Revolution, the land that is now Texas was part of Spain. Texas didn’t exist but many Revolutionary War heroes and their decendants were a critical part of Texas history. In April, Gov. Greg Abbott and the leaders of the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution honored Texas revolutionary war patriots at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin. A new monument honors 69 patriots who fought for U.S. independence who later came to Texas, The Center Square reported.

Now, the Official Tall Ship of Texas, the ELISSA, is participating in Sail 250, representing Texas to the world celebrating American independence.

The ELISSA is one of only three ships of her kind in the world that actively sails. More than 40,000 visitors come on board the National Historic Landmark normally ported in Galveston’s historic seaport.

On July 4, 2026, visitors will be able to tour the ELISSA in New York City, where the tall ship is participating in the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships. “The returns to a port she has visited before, once in 1884 and again in 1986,” the Galveston Historical Foundation, which owns and preserves the ship, said.

The ELISSA sailed into New York City in 1884 to celebrate the Statue of Liberty being gifted to the United States. It also sailed there in 1986, participating in the ongoing centennial celebration of the Statue of Liberty and the 210th anniversary of American independence.

The ports of Galveston and New York City share the unique privilege of being critical gateways for immigration. Thousands of immigrants arrived in Galveston, which was considered the Ellis Island of the South before Ellis Island opened in 1892. After Congress ended unrestricted entry into the U.S. in 1875, the first U.S. immigration station was established in Galveston.

“For Galveston, the America250 voyage is both a national showcase and a statement of identity,” GHF executive director and CEO Dwayne Jones said. “As a historic port city whose story is deeply tied to maritime commerce, immigration, and coastal life, Galveston will be represented on a global stage by a vessel that has become one of its most visible and meaningful ambassadors.”

The ELISSA will make port calls in New York City from July 3-7 and in Boston, July 11-15. It will then head back to Texas, stopping in Savannah, Georgia, July 23-26 and Pensacola, Florida, August 6-9.

The tall ship carries 19 sails that cover more than one-quarter of an acre. The ship measures 205 feet from stern to jibboom and stands 99 feet, 9 inches at its main mast. Unlike other tall ships, it’s not a replica. It’s a restored ship that was originally built in Aberdeen, Scotland, and set sail in October 1877.

Sail 250 tours of ships are free. Tickets are available online in each city.

In New York City, free tours are available at Sullivans Peir in Staten Island, piers in Brooklyn Bridge Park and piers at South Street Seaport. Ships porting in New York have traveled from Italy, Uruguay, Sweden, Spain, France, Poland, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Argentina as well as ships from Maine, Maryland and Massachusetts.

In Boston, participating ships are from Italy, Canada, Uruguay, Poland, Chile, Sweden, Colombia, Germany, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Spain, Argentina, Romania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Bermuda, India, the British Virgin Islands and the U.S.

One tall ship participating in Boston is the Mayflower II, a full-scale reproduction of the Mayflower, which arrived in Plymouth Harbor in 1620. More than 25 million people have walked across the Mayflower II decks to learn about the dangerous journey English Puritans took seeking religious freedom in the new world.