Historic Tall Ship ELISSA Returns to Pensacola With Free Deck Tours
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A piece of maritime history is sailing into downtown Pensacola this weekend.
The 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA will visit Palafox Pier from Friday, August 7 through Sunday, August 9 as part of its 2026 Sail250 voyage. Visitors can explore the ship during free deck tours or purchase tickets for a Friday afternoon sail and a Saturday evening sunset party.
This will be ELISSA’s third recorded visit to Pensacola. The historic ship previously stopped here in 1886 and returned again in 2018.
Tall Ship ELISSA Pensacola Schedule
Friday, August 7
Free deck tours
9 AM to noon
ELISSA Day Sail
2 PM to 6 PM
Tickets: $350
Saturday, August 8
Free deck tours
11 AM to 5 PM
Salute to Sunset Party
7 PM to 9 PM
Tickets: $250
Sunday, August 9
Free deck tours
11 AM to 5 PM
Location
Palafox Pier
Downtown Pensacola
Explore the Ship During Free Deck Tours
ELISSA’s crew will open the ship for free, self guided deck tours throughout the weekend.
Visitors can step aboard, meet members of the crew and learn about the craftsmanship, restoration and sailing history of the 1877 vessel. Friday’s tour hours are shorter, running from 9 AM to noon, while Saturday and Sunday tours will be available from 11 AM to 5 PM.
Sail Aboard ELISSA Friday Afternoon
Visitors looking for more than a deck tour can join ELISSA on the water during a four hour day sail Friday afternoon.
The experience runs from 2 PM to 6 PM and includes an afternoon of sailing, maritime history, education and hands on activities aboard the ship. Tickets are $350 per person, and advance reservations are required.
Attend the Salute to Sunset Party
Saturday evening, ELISSA will host a Salute to Sunset Party aboard the ship from 7 PM to 9 PM.
The evening experience includes food, drinks and music while guests celebrate the vessel’s historic 2026 voyage from the deck of the ship. Tickets are $250 per person.
Reserve the Salute to Sunset Party
Why ELISSA Is So Rare
ELISSA is an 1877 square rigged iron barque and the Official Tall Ship of Texas.
Galveston Historical Foundation rescued the vessel from a scrapyard in Piraeus Harbor, Greece, and began restoration work in 1978. The restoration was completed in 1982, transforming ELISSA into a floating museum that could actively sail again.
Today, ELISSA is one of only three ships of its kind in the world that still actively sails. The vessel is also recognized as a National Historic Landmark and welcomes more than 40,000 visitors annually at its home in Galveston.
Plan Your Visit to Palafox Pier
The free deck tours provide the easiest way to experience ELISSA without purchasing a ticket. Visitors should expect the busiest periods during the Saturday and Sunday afternoon tour windows.
Tickets are required for the Friday day sail and Saturday sunset party. Availability may become limited as the weekend approaches.
See the complete Pensacola schedule and event information
Find More Events Around Pensacola
The Tall Ship ELISSA visit is one of several events happening around Pensacola this week.
The Must Do Pensacola events calendar includes upcoming festivals, concerts, family activities, sporting events and other local experiences.
If this guide helped you plan your trip, you can support Must Do Pensacola by grabbing a sticker.
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