Galveston officials approved a $750,000 tourism investment to send the 1877 tall ship Elissa on a national tour tied to the United States’ 250th anniversary, culminating in July 4 celebrations in New York Harbor. City leaders say sponsorships and premium sailing tickets could offset the cost while delivering global exposure for Galveston.
.jpg)
The famous 1877 tall ship Elissa from Galveston will sail across the United States as part of the Sail250 flotilla. The Galveston Park Board of Trustees unanimously approved $750,000 in tourist funds to pay for the trip, which is part of the celebrations for the country's 250th anniversary.
The National Historic Landmark will now be a floating ambassador for Galveston during a year-long celebration of the beginning of the United States, which will end with events in New York Harbor on July 4. It will go big in the U.S. ports in the spring and summer. From May 28 to June 1, New Orleans will be the closest stop to Galveston.
Tony Lyle, the executive director of Visit Galveston, described the plan as a unique opportunity to enhance the global recognition of the city's marine brand. Lyle told the board, "It sounds like a lot of money to start with, but I just want to reassure you that there are plans there to underwrite that." He mentioned sponsorships and ticketed events as possible ways to make money.
The plan calls for up to 30 people to be able to sail on Elissa during certain parts of the trip. Each of these luxury tickets will likely cost between $10,000 and $25,000. According to Lyle, those sales and business sponsorships could more than cover or even lessen the city's initial investment.
With a build date of 1877, Elissa is likely to be the oldest ship in the Sail250 fleet. The Galveston Historical Foundation saved her from a scrapyard in Greece in the 1970s and fixed her up. She is now the official tall ship of Texas. The iron-hulled barque is now a floating museum at Pier 21. It gets tens of thousands of tourists a year and has a few day sails that pretend to be sailors in the 1800s.
The Galveston Historical Foundation's chief creative officer, Will Wright, told board members that the tour fits with the organization's goal to share and protect the city's maritime history. He said that the national attention could make people interested in Galveston's past again and encourage more people to visit.
The city sees the Sail250 tour as a long-term way to bring in tourists. By putting Elissa on display along with tall ships from around the world in well-known ports, they hope to teach millions of people about Galveston's role in the U.S. naval history and get more tourists to include the island on their trips.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
