ELISSA
Why it's listed
Built in 1877 in Aberdeen, Scotland, by Alexander Hall & Sons, ELISSA is a three-masted iron barque about 200 feet long. Her hull used iron that was still a fairly new material for sailing ships. Over some 100 years she carried varied cargo to more than 100 ports on six continents and sailed under six flags, being renamed several times. She first reached Galveston in December 1883 and left for Liverpool with Texas cotton in early 1884, returning in 1887. Later alterations added engines and removed masts, turning her into a motorship. The Galveston Historical Foundation bought her in 1975 and planned to bring her back across the Atlantic from Greece, restore her original rig and moor her at Seawolf Park as the focus of a maritime museum. She was nominated as one of the last working links to the Age of Sail and to Galveston's role as a leading cotton port.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that ELISSA is one of the last survivors of the sailing ships that once served American commerce, and is typical of the vessels that made Galveston a major cotton port. After restoration she would reputedly be the oldest operational sailing vessel in the world and the third oldest merchant sailing ship afloat. She visited Galveston in 1883 and 1887 and was bought by the Galveston Historical Foundation in 1975 because of that link to the port.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78002930, listed March 21, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Seawolf Park, Galveston |
|---|---|
| County | Galveston County |
| Listed | March 21, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002930 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Alexander Hall & Sons |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Maritime History, Commerce |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 14, 1990 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; heavily modified over time and awaiting a two-phase restoration, first re-rigged as a barquentine for the Atlantic crossing, with full restoration to follow once funds allow. Planned for use as a museum. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.33509, -94.77764 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78002930.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1143837
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.