Fourth of July Parade of Sail Passage on the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA

Details

Be part of history aboard the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA as she returns to New York City's historic waters for a truly extraordinary occasion—the Sail4th 250 Parade of Sail on July 4.

This is more than a sailing excursion. It is a rare opportunity to join ELISSA's crew and experience the nation's premier maritime celebrations from the deck of a National Historic Landmark. The last time ELISSA sailed in Galveston for a major public event of this scale was in 1986. Nearly four decades later, she will once again take her place leading a fleet of historic vessels commemorating America's 250th anniversary.

Only 50 guest spaces are available for this exclusive voyage, making it one of the most limited and memorable experiences ever offered aboard the nearly 150-year-old ELISSA.

As a guest, you'll sail alongside the crew, witness the Parade of Sail from a perspective few will ever experience, and become part of a living maritime tradition that connects the past to the present. Feel the wind in the sails, hear the commands of the crew, and watch history unfold as ELISSA proudly sails into another historic chapter of her story.

Space is limited to 50 guests. Advance reservations are required. Your ticket directly supports this historic vessel and its maritime history programming.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Sail Trainees must be:

• Ages 10 and older. A parent or guardian must accompany children ages 10-17.
• Ambulatory without aids and comfortable with outdoor exposure for up to 9 hours. Trainees with disabilities must advise before the sailing date.

What is included:

• Full day sail aboard the 1877 Iron Barque ELISSA
• A course of instruction on how to sail a square-rigged ship
• Breakfast and Lunch
• Water and soda

Please Note:

• The ship will depart promptly. Please ensure you are at Brooklyn Bridge Marina by the start time. Late arrivals will not be able to access the ship, and refunds will not be given.
• Due to the historic nature of the ship, ELISSA is non-ADA accessible.
• ELISSA has an onboard restroom.
• Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. All trainees must sign a waiver of release to sail.
• Smoking, vaping, and alcoholic beverages are not allowed on board ELISSA.
• Should weather force the cancellation of that day's sail, refunds will be available.

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ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE LOCATION: The Brooklyn Bridge Marina is located inside Brooklyn Bridge Park and will be controlled by the NYPD. We are awaiting final details on entrance points and will communicate them to our guests once we receive them.

ATTIRE: Dress comfortably for the day's weather, wearing clothing that can be easily added or removed. If there is the remotest possibility of rain, bring an appropriate rain jacket (no umbrellas, please, as many sailors consider them bad luck, and they can be dangerous even in moderate seas). Wear flat, rubber-soled, closed-toed shoes. Hats and sunscreen are always a good idea. So is a refillable water bottle. If you are concerned about motion sickness, check with your physician or pharmacist about Medic*tion and test the effects before the day of sail. You must bring your Medic*tion, as we cannot dispense it.

CELL PHONES AND PAGERS: Since a ringing cell phone or beeper sounds similar to some of our electronic alarms, please help us avoid confusion by placing these devices in the “vibrate” mode.

ABOUT THE 1877 TALL SHIP ELISSA, THE OFFICIAL TALL SHIP OF TEXAS | Galveston Historical Foundation brought ELISSA, an 1877 square-rigged iron barque, from a scrapyard in Piraeus Harbor, Greece to Galveston to begin restoration work in 1978. By 1982, GHF staff and volunteers completed restoration and transformed this rare, historic vessel into a floating museum that would actively sail. Today, the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA is one of only three ships of her kind in the world to still actively sail and welcomes over 40,000 visitors annually. She also serves as the Official Tall Ship of Texas, a National Historic Landmark, and a symbol of the Gulf Coast’s historic beginnings as a seaport and active waterfront.

ABOUT GALVESTON 250 | As part of Galveston 250’s voyage, ELISSA will make strategic port calls en route to Sail 250 celebrations, engaging a series of high-visibility maritime markets. ELISSA’s presence at Sail 250 not only elevates Galveston’s national profile during this milestone celebration, but also reinforces the importance of preserving authentic historic vessels as active, experiential storytellers—linking past innovation, resilience, and international exchange port celebration audiences.

Event Host

Galveston Historical Foundation