Palafox Pier – S Palafox St & S Jefferson St, Pensacola, FL 32502
The 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA sets sail for Pensacola as the first stop on her Sail 250 voyage, marking a meaningful return to a port she has visited before, once in 1886 and again in 1989 and 2018. This historic arrival offers a rare opportunity to experience a living piece of maritime heritage up close, with deck tours inviting visitors on board to explore her craftsmanship, stories, and enduring legacy.
APPEARANCE HIGHLIGHTS
DECK TOURS
8/7-8/9 | 11 AM – 5 PM | FREE
Welcome aboard! ELISSA’s crew opens their deck for free self-guided tours at the Palafox Pier, 895 South Palafox St. Meet the crew and learn about the incredible history of the 1877 vessel.
Please note: We will be open for tours on Friday, August 7, from 9 am to 12 p.m. Saturday and Sunday hours will be 11 am to 5 pm.
ELISSA DAY SAIL
8/7 | 2-6 PM | $350
Step aboard the Official Tall Ship of Texas and sail with us. This special experience takes you with us on the water for an afternoon of sailing, history, education, and hands-on excitement!
SALUTE TO SUNSET PARTY
8/8 | 7-9 PM | $250 – SOLD OUT
Join us as we toast the end of the day and the start of the evening with food, drink, and music. This evening experience invites you on board to celebrate the history-making 2026 voyage.
THE 1877 TALL SHIP ELISSA
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. Learn more here.
