Elissa (ship) facts for kids
Elissa
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | Elissa |
| Operator | Galveston Historical Foundation |
| Builder |
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| Launched | 27 October 1877 |
| Identification |
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| Fate | Training ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 431 GRT 409 NRT |
| Length | 141 ft (43 m) |
| Beam | 28 ft (8.5 m) |
| Draft | 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) . |
| Sail plan |
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| Capacity | 430 tons cargo |
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Elissa
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 Elissa
Location in Texas
Elissa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Galveston Historic Seaport, Galveston, Texas |
| Built | 1877 |
| Architect | Alexander Hall & Sons |
| Architectural style | Three-masted Barque |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002930 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | March 21, 1978 |
| Designated NHL | December 14, 1990 |
The Elissa is a famous tall ship with three masts. She is a type of sailing ship called a barque. Based in Galveston, Texas, she is one of the oldest ships still sailing today. The Elissa was launched in 1877. Now, she is a museum ship at the Texas Seaport Museum. In 1990, she was named a National Historic Landmark. The state of Texas officially named Elissa its tall ship in 2005.
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The Elissa's Journey Through Time
The Elissa was built in Aberdeen, Scotland. She was made as a merchant ship. This was a time when steamships were becoming popular. Still, sailing ships like the Elissa were important. She was launched on October 27, 1877.
The ship was named after the niece of her first owner, Henry Fowler Watt. Some say she was named after Queen Elissa of Carthage. This queen is also known as Dido. She is a character in the famous poem The Aeneid.
Changing Names and Flags
Over the years, the Elissa sailed under different flags. She was known as the Fjeld of Tønsberg when sailing for Norway. Her captain then was Herman Andersen. In Sweden, she was called the Gustav of Gothenburg.
In 1918, the ship was changed quite a bit. She became a two-masted brigantine. An engine was also added to help her move. She was sold to Finland in 1930. There, she was changed again into a schooner.
Rescue and Restoration
By 1959, the Elissa was sold to Greece. She had new names like Christophoros and Achaeos. In 1969, she was called Pioneer. By 1970, she was almost destroyed in Piraeus, Greece. The San Francisco Maritime Museum bought her. But she stayed in a salvage yard for a while.
In 1975, the Galveston Historical Foundation bought her for $40,000. They are her owners today. In 1979, after repairs in Greece, Elissa was towed to Gibraltar. There, she was made ready for a long ocean tow. Her journey to Galveston began on June 7, 1979.
Building the Elissa
The Elissa has a strong iron hull. Her pin rail and bright work are made of teak wood. Her tall masts are from Douglas fir trees in Oregon. All 19 of her sails were made in Maine. It's amazing that she survived many changes. These changes included adding an engine. Also, all her original rigging and masts were removed over time.
Sailing Again: The Elissa's New Life
The Elissa made her first trip as a restored ship in 1985. She sailed to Corpus Christi, Texas. A year later, she sailed to New York City. This was to celebrate the Statue of Liberty's 100th birthday.
When she is not sailing, the Elissa is docked at the Texas Seaport Museum in Galveston. You can take tours of the ship all year. This is unless she is out sailing. Volunteers from all over the country help sail and take care of the ship.
Hull Repairs and Return to Sea
In July 2011, the U.S. Coast Guard said the Elissa was "not seaworthy." This means she was not safe enough to sail. An inspection showed her hull was rusted. The ship is checked twice every five years. The 2011 check found the worst rust since she was rebuilt in 1982.
The Texas Seaport Museum raised $3 million for repairs. This money paid for a new hull and other important work. The repairs finished in January 2013. The museum also replaced the wooden deck. They used new Douglas fir wood. New furniture was built for the quarterdeck using high-quality teak.
The Elissa started sailing again in March 2014. She made many daily trips from her home port in Galveston. She sailed for two weeks.
The Elissa is one of the oldest sailing hulls still used today. The oldest is the schooner Lewis R. French. It was launched in 1871 in Christmas Cove, Maine. It still sails from Camden, Maine.
Achievements and Recognition
The Elissa has received several important honors:
- She was the first object outside the United States to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- She is a National Historic Landmark.
- The Texas Legislature named her the official state Tall Ship in 2005.
Related Information
