About this Event
Portsmouth is an official Affiliate Harbor to Sail Virginia℠ 2026, the Greater Virginia event of the national Sail250® celebration. Portsmouth’s historic waterfront will come alive with visiting Tall Ships, public ship tours, live music, family-friendly activities, and cultural programming. Whether you’re visiting from across the region or right here at home, Portsmouth offers a front-row seat to this once-in-a-generation maritime event. The 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA sets sail for Yorktown as part of her Sail 250 voyage, marking a first-time appearance at this historic port. This 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.
It's your opportunity to step on board the Official Tall Ship of Texas with a reservation to participate in the festival's parade of sail kick-off. Don't miss out on this history-making moment! Your ticket directly supports this historic vessel and its maritime history programming.
SAILING DETAILS COMING SOON!
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 Venue & Nearby Stays
Water Street, 2 High St, Portsmouth, United States
USD 522.95
