Tall Ships Are Fun!
Ahoy! Here you will find information on tall ships around the world that are open for the public to tour. All ships are grouped by region of the world so that you can easily find ones near you or your next travel destination.
Touring a tall ship is an incredible experience that gives you an appreciation of history, the adventure of sailing and what life was like for the crews that sailed these great ships. It's a fun and educational activity the whole family can enjoy.
This site lists tall ships that are stationary exhibits most of the time, usually as part of a larger maritime museum. Some do set sail occasionally so please check each ship's website for specifics.
(USS Constellation pictured above in Baltimore's Inner Harbor)
Index of Tall Ships
What's A Tall Ship?
A tall ship does not have to be built entirely of wood, most built in the late 19th and early 20th century had wrought iron or steel hulls and masts.
Tall ships are classified according to their rig (the number of masts and configuration of the sails). Basic rigs include full-rigged ship, brig, barque, brigantine and barquentine. Click here for a full list of sailing ship rig definitions.
NORTH AMERICA - East Coast
Tall Ships to Tour in North America
- USS Constitution "Old Ironsides"
- Tour the world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat at Charlestown Navy Yard in Massachusetts. Christened in 1797, this warship was a critical part of the early history of the United States, including extensive action during the War of 1812.
- USS Constellation
- The USS Constellation is the last all sail warship built by the US Navy. She is also the last US Civil War era vessel still afloat and is open to the public as a museum in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
- Peking
- A four-masted barque with its mainmast rising to a height of 170 feet, the Peking is one of the largest sailing vessels ever built and is said to be the largest preserved by a museum (New York's South Street Seaport Museum).
- Wavertree
- Built in 1885, the Wavertree is the largest full-rigged sailing ship built of wrought iron still afloat. She is also berthed at the South Street Seaport Museum.
- HMS Bounty
- This ship was built by MGM studios in 1960 for the filming of Mutiny on the Bounty using the drawings of the original ship built over 200 years ago. She is currently sailing to the US west coast and then to Tahiti to celebrate the 220th anniversary of Bounty's first arrival. Please check the website for ports of call and tour information. In 2005 HMS Bounty took part in the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean II.
- Charles W. Morgan
- Built in 1841, the Charles W. Morgan is said to be the world's last remaining wooden whaling ship. It is a designated National Historic Landmark and is berthed at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut.
- Elissa
- Elissa is an iron hulled barque built in 1877 that transported cargo around the world for over 90 years. She continues to sail annually in the Gulf of Mexico and is berthed at the Texas Seaport Museum in Galveston, Texas.
- Friendship
- The original Friendship was built in 1797. The three masted "East Indiaman" made 15 voyages around the world before being captured by the British sloop of war HMS Rosamond during the War of 1812. This replica of the Friendship was completed in 1998 and is part of the Salem Maritime National Historic Site in Salem, MA.
- US Brig Niagara
- The original Niagara was built in 1813 during the War of 1812. Under the command of Commodore Perry, she was a key part of the American victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Erie. This replica was built in 1988 and includes some of the timbers from the original ship. She serves as a Sailing School Vessel during the summer but can be toured at the Erie Maritime Museum the rest of the year. Thanks to fellow lensmaster, Theresa, for sending me this link.
- S/V Denis Sullivan
- The Denis Sullivan is a reproduction of a 19th century Great Lakes three masted cargo schooner. She is "Wisconsin's Flagship" and serves as an educational and nautical training vessel, promoting the state's rich maritime heritage. She is available for tours and day sails in her home port of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Support Your Tall Ships
Please remember that your admission ticket only covers a portion of these costs. There is usually a donation box onsite or you can find donor information on the ship's website.
NORTH AMERICA - West Coast
More Tall Ships to Tour in North America
- HMS Rose (aka HMS Surprise)
- This ship played the role of HMS Surprise in the Oscar winning movie Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World. She is docked in San Diego, CA, at the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
- Star of India
- Built in 1863, this barque was originally a full-rigged ship until converted in 1901. She still sets sail at least once a year, is one of the world's oldest active ships and part of the Maritime Museum of San Diego
- Californian
- This replica of the 1847 Revenue Cutter C.W. Lawrence was built at San Diego in 1984. She is the official tall ship of the State of California. When not out sailing her annual tour of the California coast, she can be found in San Diego.
- Balclutha
- The Balclutha first set sail in 1887. She has the distiction of being the last vessel to fly the flag of the Hawaiian Kingdom and is now a National Historic Landmark. The National Park Service acquired her in 1978 and she is part of the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park.
Map of Tall Ships in North America
Party On A Tall Ship!
How cool would it be to celebrate your next birthday, graduation, wedding, anniversary, corporate function or any other event on the deck of a tall ship?
Well, you're in luck. Most tall ships are available for private parties and events. Check their website for details.
Peking Wedding
Wedding
New Year's Eve
Elissa Wedding
EUROPE
Tall Ships to Tour in Europe
- HMS Victory
- The Victory is most famous for serving as Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar. Launched in 1765 and still serving as the flagship of the Second Sea Lord, this ship carries a formidable 100 guns and is the world's oldest commissioned warship. When not performing official functions, she is open to the public at No2 Dry Dock at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, UK.
- HMS Warrior
- This ship, built in 1860, was Great Britain's first iron hulled, armored battleship and used both sail and steam power. She is now berthed at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, UK.
- SV Glenlee
- Built in Glasgow in 1896, the Glenlee is a three masted, steel hulled barque that originally served as a bulk cargo carrier before being purchased by the Spanish navy for use as a sail training vessel. She is now back home in Glasgow Harbour and is "One of the cheapest days out in Glasgow".
- Seute Deern
- This wooden barque was built in 1919 and is one of the original exhibits at the German Maritime Museum (Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum - DSM) in Bremerhaven, Germany.
- Cutty Sark
- One of the world's most famous ships and last of the tea clippers. She is open to the public in Greenwich, UK. UPDATE: There was a major fire aboard the Cutty Sark on May 21, 2007. Please visit the ship's website if you are interested in donating to its rebuilding fund.
- Dunbrody
- Built in 1845, the original Dunbrody was a three masted barque that is most well known for carrying emigrants from Ireland to the US and Canada during the Irish Famine from 1845 to 1851. This sea-going replica was completed in 2001 and is open to the public in New Ross, Ireland. Visitors to the museum can also access a database of emigrant information.
- Pommern
- The Pommern is a 4 masted barque built in 1903 that sailed the globe as a cargo ship until the outbreak of WWII. She is open for tours from May to September in the town of Mariehamn, Finland.
- HMS Trincomalee
- Launched in 1817, the Trincomalee is a Leda class frigate that was built in Bombay out of teak due to a shortage of oak in England. She served the Royal Navy throughout the 19th century. Restoration was completed in 2001 and the ship is now available to tour in Hartlepool, England.
- Vasa
- At the time of her launch in 1628, the Swedish Vasa was the mightiest warship in the world with 64 guns. Unfortunately, she sank on her maiden voyage in Stockholm harbor. In 1961, the Vasa was salvaged intact from a depth of 30m and is now the centerpiece of the Vasa museum in Stockholm, Sweden.
- SS Great Britain
- Built in 1843 by IK Brunel, the Great Britain is the world's first iron hulled, steam powered ocean going ship and was 100ft longer than any ship in the world at the time. Equipped with 4 masts, she served as a passenger liner, troop transport, windjammer and coal ship. She has been restored and is a permanent exhibit in Bristol, England.
Gun Deck Photos
USS Constitution
USS Constitution
USS Constellation
Brig Niagara
HMS Victory
AUSTRALIA
Tall Ships to Tour in Australia
- HMB Endeavour
- A replica of Captain James Cook's famous ship is berthed at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour, Sydney.
- James Craig
- This barque was built in 1874 and rounded Cape Horn 23 times during her career. A 20 year long restoration project was completed in 2001. In addition to daily guided tours, her frequent weekend cruises are also open to the public and small groups. The James Craig is berthed at Wharf 7, Pyrmont, NSW.
Exceedingly Good Tall Ship Books
Tall Ships
The latest book from tall ship author and photographer Thad Koza.
Amazon Price: (as of 10/08/2008)
The Last of the Cape Horners: Firsthand Accounts From the Final Days of the Commercial Tall Ships
A collection of true first hand experiences woven together as a voyage around the world.
Amazon Price: (as of 10/08/2008)
Tall Ships: The Magic of Sail (American Landmarks)
This book documents the history of tall ships with over 100 photographs and illustrations.
Amazon Price: (as of 10/08/2008)
Serve On A Tall Ship
and help keep history alive.
If you have experience, would like to learn some new skills or just want to help keep history alive, then consider volunteering. Check the website of the ship you're interested in or ask when you visit for more information.
ASIA
Tall Ships to Tour in Asia
- Nippon-Maru
- This four masted vessel was built in 1930 and served as a training vessel. She is now berthed at Yokohama, Japan.
SOUTH AMERICA
Tall Ships to Tour in South America
- President Sarmiento
- This frigate, launched in 1897, was present at the coronations of King Edward VII of Great Britain, King Alfonso XII of Spain and King George V of Great Britain. She also attended the 100th Anniversary of Mexico's Independence and the opening of the Panama Canal. She was decommissioned from her training ship duties in 1961 and is now on exhibit in Buenos Aries, Argentina.
Gotta Lotta Tall Ships
Tall Ship Photos
USS Eagle
The Glenlee - Glasgow's tall ship
HMS Victory's broadside
Tall Ships Is Our Middle Name
The Tall Ships web ring and other sites...
Tall Ships [ - Tall Ship Tracking Map
- This very cool website maps the location of several tall ships as they sail across the globe using weather and ham radio reports. It also provides the ability to plot each ship's course over time.
- Traditional Boats & Tall Ships magazine
- A tall ship focused magazine published in the UK. Their site is full of information, links and photos.
- The American Sail Training Association (ASTA)
- A nonprofit organization focused on youth education, leadership development and the preservation of the maritime heritage of North America. This organization also organizes the annual TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® race series.
- Sail A Tall Ship
- For those who want more than just a tour in port, here is a guide to ships around the world that you can actually sail as a trainee. Many of these ships are also available for charter cruises.
- Privateers in the American Revolution
- An informative article on privateering and its role in the American Revolution.
- The Glamorous Six Masters
- This site contains info and photos of the six and seven masted schooners built in the US during the early 1900s.
- The Model Shipyard
- Designers and builders of the STEPHENS & KENAU(TM) range of museum quality Historic Sailing Ship Models. Check out the site, the pics of these models are amazing. Each model takes between 400 and 950 man-hours to build.
Tall Ship Documentaries
Sail 2000, Aboard the Eagle
Live the adventure of sailing on the US Coast Guard's Eagle (pictured above) as she sails with other tall ships into New York Harbor.
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 10/08/2008)
Sea Warriors - The Royal Navy in the Age of Sail
Learn what life was really like aboard a man of war during the era of "Nelson's Navy".
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 10/08/2008)
Races and Events
- Tall Ships' Races
- Each summer, Sail Training International organizes a series of races in Europe that includes 70 to 100 vessels from all over the globe.
- 2008 Festival of Sail, Channel Islands Harbor
- Tall ships will visit the Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard, CA, from August 7-10.
Tall Ship Movies and Documentaries
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Tall Ship Movies
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From swashbuckling pirates to action packed naval battles, tall ship movies rock! Below is a directory of tall ship movies and documentaries that might interest the tall ship fan in you. Where possible, I've listed the tall ships used in the filming...
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Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World
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A captivating movie based on the even better "Master and Commander" book series written by the late Patrick O'Brian. This movie stars Russell Crowe as British Navy Captain "Lucky Jack" Aubrey and Paul Bettany as ship's surge...
Museums With Tall Ships
- South Street Seaport Museum
- Manhattan, New York, USA
- Maritime Museum of San Diego
- San Diego, California, USA
- German Maritime Museum
- Bremerhaven, Germany
- Mystic Seaport
- Mystic, Connecticut, USA
- San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park
- San Francisco, California, USA
- Yokohama Maritime Museum
- Yokohama, Japan
- New Zealand National Maritime Museum
- Viaduct Harbour, Auckland, New Zealand
- Texas Seaport Museum
- Galveston, Texas, USA
- Erie Maritime Museum
- Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
Keep Watch
For a tall ship
There are always tall ships sailing the seas and making ports of call. When they do, there is usually an opportunity to see them in action and possibly even take a tour while they're in port.
To find the current location of a ship at sea, check out the Tall Ship Tracking Map.
I'm Not Gonna Pay A Lot For This Tall Ship
Auctions of tall ship memorabilia...
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
You Need A Tall Ship
Other cool stuff...
Ship Merchant Sailing Ships Poster Print, 38x27
A guide to the many different riggings of tall ships.
Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 10/08/2008)
Songs of the Tall Ships/Cruising 'Round Yardmouth
A collection of sailing and whaling songs from the 1800s.
Amazon Price: $16.98 (as of 10/08/2008)
Tall Ship-Cutty Sark, 1000 pcs
For fans of tall ships who also love puzzles.
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 10/08/2008)
The Action Between the Java and Constitution, Tall Ships Art Poster Print, 36x26
A depiction of the famous 3 hour battle between the HMS Java and the USS Constitution during the War of 1812.
Amazon Price: $37.99 (as of 10/08/2008)
Sign the Logbook
Please leave an entry or send feedback if this lens was helpful to you or if there are any other info/links that you would like to see here. Thanks!
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Squidster
I used to live in Bremerhaven and have been on the Seute Deern many times (excellent restaurant). Every few years, Bremerhaven hosts the "Sail" when a lot of the major tall ships of the world come together. It's quite an experience! The Russians and Poland have magnificent tall ships, if not the largest. There's a lot of potential in this lens, keep up the good work! Posted September 24, 2008 |
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beachbum_gabby
Those are amazing tall ships, very interesting! Posted September 18, 2008 |
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BFuniv.com
My son volunteered for upkeep, and crewed several cruises up the coast, on the tall ships at Dana Point in California. Posted May 10, 2008 |
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poddys
Great lens, I like it. I have had a fascination for sailing ships since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Posted February 07, 2008 |
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Aika
bring back the past. This is really a cool lens. Keep sailing. 5* Posted September 12, 2007 |
Informative and loved the pics. You omitted Highlander Sea, located in Port Huron, Michigan, and owned by Acheson Ventures.
Posted August 18, 2007
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klapskie
It makes me remember pirates :) nice lens and well done! 5 stars from me. Pls stop by at my lens sometimes, thanks Posted July 26, 2007 |
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buchhans
Hello Posted July 05, 2007 |
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anndouglas
What a unique -- and fascinating -- idea for a lens. Extremely well done. Posted June 16, 2007 |
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elishadavis
Interesting and informative lens. Great job! Cheers! Posted June 08, 2007 |
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TopChef
Great lens Mac33, shame about the Cutty Sark. I was lucky too see her years ago, also HMS Victory. Looking forward to more future posts. Posted June 02, 2007 |
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globy
Great job, Mac. Master and Commander is one of my faves! Thank you. Posted May 28, 2007 |
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CJPate
We saw the Tall Ships on the East Coast in the summer of 1976. What an awesome sight! Posted May 21, 2007 |
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heipet
Hi Mac33, thank you for joining the SUMMER group and submitting your lens. Welcome aboard! You might also want to say hello in the logbook? Greetings from Wilhelmshaven in Germany (near Bremerhaven), home of an annual Tall Ships Gathering in July, heipet Posted May 09, 2007 |
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trying
This is a very interesting topic. I've never actually toured on a tall ship but would certainly like to. Posted March 24, 2007 |
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technovoid
A most impressive lens. Very interesting read also. Posted March 15, 2007 |
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giddygabby
Nice lens, Mac. Lots of great info. I got to tour the Balclutha in San Francisco a few years ago and it was a memorable experience. I had no idea ship life was so difficult, and now I know why sailors call the bathroom the head. I'm giving you 5 stars. Posted February 22, 2007 |
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KCStargazer
Excellent lens. I got to see a Tall Ships Regatta while visiting Seattle several years ago- it was amazing! Posted February 13, 2007 |
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readygolfer
Thanks for a great lens. It brought back memories of my visit to the USS Constitution when I was in grade school. I'd like to go see the Charles W. Morgan which is not far from where I live. Posted February 10, 2007 |
