Photo courtesy of New Orleans & Company.
The CNS Esmeralda from Chile is one of twelve tall ships that will dock at the Port of New Orleans later this month as part of national celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary.
This month, twelve of the world’s most distinguished ships will drop anchor in the port of New Orleans, making up the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships. The stunning display will launch celebrations taking place across the nation for America250, commemorating America’s semiquincentennial this July.
Dubbed Sail250, the event will kick off on Wednesday, May 27 and Thursday, May 28, as the ships arrive in the official “Parade of Sail,” docking along the Mississippi Riverfront from the Crescent City Connection Bridge to Poland Avenue Wharf. For free, visitors can step onboard vessels such as Chile’s CNS Esmeralda; Uruguay’s three-masted schooner, the ROU Caitán Miranda; and the USCG Eagle, the only active square-rigged vessel still in United States government service as the Coast Guard’s training ship.
In typical New Orleans fashion, the occasion will be met with a host of celebratory events throughout the French Quarter and Warehouse District, including riverfront fireworks on May 30, a seafood cook-off, educational exhibits, local food vendors, and more. On June 1, an official Blessing of the Fleet will see the ships off as they depart on their tour up the coast to other host cities, including Norfolk, New York City, and Boston.
“As one of the world’s great cultural crossroads and home to the Port of New Orleans—a vital gateway connecting global commerce to the American heartland—our city has long stood at the intersection of nations, ideas, and maritime enterprise,” said Walt Leger, III, President and CEO of New Orleans & Company. “There is no more fitting place to begin this momentous national commemoration. We proudly invite visitors from near and far to experience our remarkable culture while celebrating America’s enduring maritime legacy.”
.jpg)
