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Help Keep Elissa Sailing
Donate Online Today
In 1979, GHF brought ELISSA to Galveston. By 1982, GHF staff and volunteers completed what today may simply be called a miracle as it transformed this rare, historic sailing barque into a museum artifact that could still sail. Now, thirty years later, there is a new call to action. This time the goal is to “Keep ELISSA Sailing.”
ELISSA is the official tall ship of Texas and a National Historic Landmark. She is the only symbol in Galveston of its historic beginnings as a port and active waterfront and is one of four tall ships in the world that still sails on a regular basis. ELISSA measures the resilience of Galveston Island and is a worldwide ambassador for our community and state.
GHF supports ELISSA through admissions, special events, donations, and grants. The Foundation receives no federal, state or local government financial support and gets no subsidies from any entity to support ELISSA. She does keep a loyal and talented cadre of hundreds of volunteers who maintain and sail her. Each year thousands of tourists cross her deck to learn more about tall ships and maritime history. School children from around the state know the image of ELISSA as their only connection to Texas’ maritime history.
But, ELISSA is in trouble. As a result of Hurricane Ike, she has become a quiet victim of a gradual but debilitating deterioration from electrolysis. When GHF took her to our regular dry dock in January of 2010, extensive corrosion of the historic hull became evident. GHF patched her up and returned her to the Texas Seaport Museum destined to not sail again without a $3 million dollar restoration.
There are many ways you can help.
- Text ELISSA to 50555 and donate $10 towards her restoration campaign. You can donate up to 3 times per month
- Click here to donate to the Keep ELISSA Sailing fund at whatever amount you choose
- Contact us directly at 409-765-7834 or foundation@galvestonhistory.org and find out how you can support
We plan to dry dock ELISSA for the restoration late summer 2012 and sail her along the Texas coast line in October. Our goal is large but our failure to meet the goal would be a substantial loss to Galveston.
Please join us in this challenge and as we help to “keep ELISSA sailing.”
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