Historic Tall Ship ELISSA Draws Visitors to Cambridge During Sail 250 Voyage
CAMBRIDGE, Md. — A piece of maritime history made a stop on Maryland’s Eastern Shore this weekend as the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA welcomed visitors aboard during its first port call of a national voyage celebrating America’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
Docked at the Cambridge Yacht Basin, the historic vessel offered free public tours Saturday and Sunday, giving residents and visitors a chance to explore one of the world’s last actively sailing square-rigged iron barques.
The ELISSA, recognized as the Official Tall Ship of Texas and a National Historic Landmark, arrived in Cambridge as the first stop on its Sail 250 journey. The voyage will ultimately take the ship to New York Harbor, where it will join what organizers describe as the largest-ever gathering of tall ships from around the world during Independence Day celebrations in 2026.
Visitors spent the weekend walking the ship’s decks, learning about its nearly 150-year history, and speaking with crew members about its restoration and continued operation. The vessel was originally launched in 1877 and carried cargo around the globe before being rescued from a scrapyard in Greece in the late 1970s. It was later restored by the Galveston Historical Foundation and returned to service as a sailing museum.
Today, ELISSA is one of only three ships of its kind still actively sailing worldwide and welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year.
According to officials with the Galveston Historical Foundation, the ship’s participation in Sail 250 highlights the importance of preserving historic vessels and sharing maritime history with future generations.
Following its stay in Cambridge, ELISSA will continue north to New York, where it is expected to lead a parade of Class A tall ships during the America 250 celebration. The ship will also make additional stops in Boston, Savannah and Pensacola before returning to Texas.
The Cambridge visit offered a rare opportunity for Eastern Shore residents to experience a living piece of maritime history before it continues its national journey.
