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Galveston Historical Foundation
ELISSA Day Sail Viewing

Historic Harbor Tour and Dolphin Watch

Get TicketsPier 22, Suite #8 | 409-763-1877
Open Tuesday-Sunday (also Mondays 6/10, 6/24, 7/8, 7/22, 8/5, 8/19, 9/2)

Tours are 1-Hour and Depart at 10:15, 11:30, 1:30, 2:45, and 4 p.m.
Admission: Adult – $20 | Youth (6-18) – $18 | Children (5 & Under) – Free
Includes Tour of the 1877 ELISSA

CLOSINGS: We will be closed from October 30 through November 4, November 28, and December 6 through 8. We will open at 1 p.m. on November 26.

See Galveston Harbor up close aboard Seagull II on the Historic Harbor Tour and Dolphin Watch, Galveston Historic Seaport’s 50-foot twin-engine motor vessel. Fast, stable, and sheltered, she was built specifically for harbor sight-seeing excursions and education and is a perfect platform for waterborne experiential learning. The boat is U.S. Coast Guard certified, and her operators are fully licensed and knowledgeable about the history and lore of her home waters. Seagull II has a comfortable main deck, sheltered from sun and rain, and an open upper deck affords a full panorama of water and sky.

WEATHER POLICY |  Seagull II and the Historic Harbor Tour and Dolphin Watch will not operate during lightning, thunderstorms, or sustained winds of 25 knots or higher or if The National Weather Service has issued a Small Craft Advisory. All other situations, such as rain, waves, vessel condition, and extraordinary circumstances, are at the Captain’s discretion. Seagull II will operate in a limited capacity in reduced visibility scenarios. At <1nm of visibility, tours will be restricted by the Captain’s discretion. At <1/2 Nautical mile of visibility, tours will be postponed or canceled. If the Galveston or Houston channel is closed or restricted by the USCG or Port of Galveston, Seagull II will follow all directions as broadcasted, which could include postponing or canceling tours.

PLEASE NOTE | Seagull II will not be operating on November 3-6, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. We will also close at 3 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

PRIVATE CHARTERS | Seagull II makes an excellent and unusual venue for birthday parties, office get-togethers, receptions, convention features, and more. The ever-changing scenery of the busy harbor, the excitement of a dolphin sighting, and a restful sunset over an island occupied only by birds combine to make your event one to remember. For reservation information, call us at 409-765-3432.

FIELD TRIPS & SCHOOL GROUPS | See the imprint of events and eras in Galveston’s nearly two centuries of history on a shifting shoreline. From the restored 1877 sailing vessel Elissa to the grounded ferroconcrete vessel Selma to the sites of the Civil War Battle of Galveston, history is visible on Galveston Bay. Social Studies take on new life as students explore the first and oldest seaport in Texas, which is still busy and evolving. Contact us at 409-763-1877 for booking.

  • INTRODUCTION TO GALVESTON HARBOR TOUR: 1 hour. $10 per student & $15 per chaperone. Enjoy a tour of history, wildlife adventure, folklore, and more. See Galveston and Galveston Bay from a unique perspective. Experience close-up encounters with big ships, dolphins, and seabirds.
  • MARINE BIOLOGY TOUR – FLOATING CLASSROOM: 90 minutes. $20 per student and chaperone. Students breathe the ocean air, visit area birding islands to see indigenous shorebird species, pose challenging questions, use the scientific method, and discuss their findings with the marine biologist aboard.
  • MARINE BIOLOGY TOUR – FLOATING CLASSROOM/LABORATORY: 2 hours. $25 per student and chaperone. Our marine biologist leads students in trawling for fish and other sea creatures for hands-on and microscopic observation. Students pose challenging questions and explore answers using the scientific method. The tour visits area birding islands to see indigenous shorebird species and birds of passage in all their variety.

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