Millions of Americans celebrated America 250, Sail250 events in key ports, boarding scores of ships that sailed thousands of nautical miles to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Sail250 Events

Sail 250 events began in New Orleans after Memorial Day weekend and concluded in Boston this week. The Semiquincentennial celebration saw the largest gathering of international tall ships and naval vessels in New Orleans, Norfolk, Virginia, Baltimore, Maryland, the Port of New York and New Jersey, and Boston Harbor.

The U.S. Coast Guard provided comprehensive maritime safety and security operations during the global gathering of tall ships and military ships over a two-month period. The USCG said it “worked seamlessly alongside local, state and federal partners throughout the event.” Joint efforts ensured the safety of mariners, record public turnouts, and more than 60 military vessels and tall ships from 20 countries while also ensuring maritime commerce continued uninterrupted through some of the country’s busiest waterways.

Historic Tall Ships

More than seven million people traveled to Boston to participate. Unlike in other port cities, visitors had the opportunity to board four of the most historic tall ships in U.S. and naval history. They include the only tall ship from Texas, the ELISSA; the Mayflower II from Plymouth, and the only active commissioned sailing vessels in the U.S. military – the USS Constitution and the USCG Eagle.

The ELISSA, the Official Tall Ship of Texas, is one of only three ships of her kind in the world that actively sails. More than 40000 visitors come on board the National Historic Landmark normally ported in Galveston’s historic seaport.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.