LOCAL TEXAS ICON
ELISSA THE
The official Tall Ship of Texas, built in 1877, is still sailing the seas by
I
MIKE CARLISLE
N 2005, Gov. Rick Perry ed Elissa as the official of Texas. She tered as a
designatTall Ship was also regisNational Historic Landmark in 1990. In fact, the Elissa became the first item outside the United States to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places, in the summer of 1978. Elissa is more than a treasured artifact of living history; she’s a fully functional vessel starting her 142nd year of sailing annually in the Gulf of Mexico. Elissa reflects the dedication of the Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) to bring history alive, combined with hundreds of dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain and train each year to sail her, led by Mark Scibinico, port captain in charge of the continued care and repair of the traditional vessels at the Texas Seaport Museum.
PRE-RESTORATION: After finding that Elissa (bottom photo) had lost her sails and had been refitted with an engine in 1918 and a single loading crane, the Galveston Historical Foundation restored the ship back to her 1877 sailing configuration (at left).
SUMMER 2019
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5/23/19 5:31:29 PM