a Historical Perspective

See Also: 2002 Los Angeles Festival of Sail

The supposed "last gathering of tall ships" was in 1956 in Europe, with some two dozen "endangered" square-riggers in a race and port festival that instead marked the renaissance of square-riggers.

The 40 year legacy of tallship festivals in the United States began with one simple idea: why not bring all the worlds growing fleet of tall ships together in New York Harbor? This gathering of tallships complimented the 1964 New York World’s Fair and, for the first time, introduced America to the international tallship fleet.

Recognizing the values of sail training, cultural exchange and goodwill among nations, tallship festival organizers continued to develop historic, event-based tall ship celebrations. These tall ships spectaculars tied in with the United States Bicentennial celebration, the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty and honored the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ first voyage and the beginning of the new millennium.

Tall ship festivities are planned every year in Europe and the United States due to public enthusiasm and the positive economic impact these ship visits have on the local economy.