A 149-year-old iron barque just left Galveston — the oldest ship in America’s biggest maritime celebration in decades.

On June 8th, families gathered on Pier 21 in Galveston to say their goodbyes, some hugging crew members who would be gone for months. The ship easing away from the dock was the Elissa, a 149-year-old square-rigged iron barque (a vessel with three or more masts) and the Official Tall Ship of Texas. She will be heading to New York Harbor for the Fourth of July.

Not a Replica, but the Real Thing

Built in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1877, the Elissa is a National Historic Landmark with her original iron hull intact — the same hull that loaded Texas cotton in the 1880s and carried cargo around the world. She is one of only two ships of her age and type still actively sailing anywhere on the planet. As her captain, Andrew Ellers, put it simply: “Elissa is the real deal.” She will be the oldest ship at Sail250, a global gathering of tall ships and naval vessels in major cities along the U.S. East Coast celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, and is expected to be the largest such event ever held in the United States.

The Voyage

The Elissa departed with 14 permanent crew and roughly 40 volunteers rotating through port calls. Her route takes her around Florida, then north along the Atlantic coast — Pensacola, Savannah, Yorktown — arriving in New York Harbor July 3rd. On July 4th, she is expected to lead the Class A tall ship parade into the harbor. The return trip through Boston and back to Galveston wraps up in late August. Public sail tickets will be available at several stops along the way.

This will be her first major voyage since 1986, when she sailed past the Statue of Liberty for that landmark’s centennial, producing what has become one of Galveston’s most iconic maritime images. Forty years later, she’s now going back.

What This Means for Texas

Galveston was once among the wealthiest port cities in the country — a hub of global commerce, immigration, and seamanship that predates Houston’s rise. The Elissa physically sailed into that history; she called at Galveston twice in the 1880s. Now she goes as ambassador for the Gulf’s maritime heritage. For those of us who practice maritime law along this coastline — who sail, and work, and love this sea — that matters.

If you’re in New York Harbor on the Fourth of July, look for her leading the fleet. She’ll be the oldest one out there.

We at the Herd Law Firm are proud to fight for seamen, maritime workers and passengers in all types of personal injury and death claims. As maritime personal injury attorneys (and sailors ourselves!) located in northwest Houston, we never waver in our commitment to help these maritime workers, passengers, and their families when they are injured or mistreated.

Sources

Houston Public Media — “Historic Galveston ship will sail to New York for nation’s 250th anniversary” (Feb. 9 & June 8, 2026). houstonpublicmedia.org

Galveston Daily News — “Elissa’s journey puts Galveston on the world’s maritime stage” (June 8, 2026). galvnews.com

Click2Houston / KPRC-TV — “Texas’ Historic Tall Ship ELISSA Heads to New York for Sail250” (June 9, 2026). click2houston.com

ABC13 / KTRK-TV — “Historic Tall Ship Elissa sets off from Galveston” (June 8, 2026). abc13.com

Visit Galveston / Galveston Historical Foundation — galveston250.com / galvestonhistory.org

Sail250 — Official event site. sail250.org