The Tall Ship ELISSA is a true Texas legend that you can sail on
By Philip Billnitzer
She sat motionless in Piraeus Harbor, Greece in 1961, her 90-year commercial
history, including days as a cigarette smuggler, behind her, not knowing a
great destiny lay ahead. Originally launched in 1877, today the ELISSA graces the Texas Seaport Museum
(TSM) at Pier 21 in Galveston. The 19-sails on the 205-foot long, 99-foot,
9-inch high iron-hulled ship cover almost one quarter of an acre in surface
area and her magnificence is undeniable.
“A square rig ship under sail is one of the most beautiful things humankind has
ever created,” says David Canright of the Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF).
The ELISSA carried a variety of cargo and sailed under many names before winding
up at TSM. She was purchased in 1975 by the GHF for $40,000. Her initial
restoration was complete in 1982 with the help of many.
“We were like a band of brothers and sisters, the first generation of us who were
involved in the initial restoration,” Canright says.
In 2005, the ELISSA was recognized by the Texas Legislature as “The Official Tall Ship of Texas.” The honor came years after the ELISSA had already been recognized as one of the
best restorations of its kind in the world and after the ship had received many
national historic honors.
Seamanship training begins this month and continues through next March,
culminating in a sea trial. The training course is free, but it requires a
commitment to attend two weekends of training per month. The sessions last
about eight hours each day, according to volunteer leader John Moran. “(Volunteer) hours are most important. They are the currency of the ship,” he says. 
Moran, who has been with the GHF for 18 years, heads a group of roughly 200
dedicated volunteers. Together, they log 24,000 volunteer hours per year. The
GHF has only two paid staff members. The youngest workers are about seven or
eight years old, while some volunteers are in their mid-70s. Some of the
on-board jobs, the ones that involve climbing, require significant upper body
strength, but there are tasks for anyone who wants to volunteer. People in
wheelchairs have helped on the deck and female volunteers make up a large
percentage of the workforce, Moran says.
“About 40 percent of our volunteers are ladies, and if there’s one thing I learned early on it’s that you don’t step in front of a lady to pull something. If they ask you to help, then you
help, but not before,” he says.
Moran says working on the ship is a great way to get some exercise for those who
like doing hard work in the outdoors, but not all volunteering involves
physical labor.
Restoration is an ongoing process. He adds the ship is never far from being
ready to set sail. Most museum ships are “dead ships” but the ELISSA, he says, is full of life. She displaces 620 to 976 tons of
water, depending on the cargo load, as she clips along. She sails annually, if
not more frequently.
“If somebody has a big checkbook and wants to sail, they ought to be ready to
sail pretty soon,” he says. 
The ship frequently hosts weddings and attracts guests from all over the world.
Her economic impact on Galveston is immense and the inspirational impact can be
measured in many different ways.
“One couple brought their daughter down to see what she was named after,” Moran recalls.
School tours are a delight for both youngsters and tour providers. Like all who
set out to see the rescued ELISSA, they are excited from the moment they see
her standing tall against the ocean wind. For more information or to volunteer,
go to Galvestonhistory.org.
Contributing editor Philip Billnitzer is a freelance writer. Contact him at
Billnitzer@hotmail.com.
Photography by David Canright/GHF