US Coast Guard Tall Ship Eagle Opens Free Seattle Tours

The U.S. Coast Guard's Barque Eagle, known as "America's Tall Ship," is visiting Seattle for public tours on July 9 and 10 at Pier 66, marking its first stop in the city since 2008. This historic 295-foot-long, steel-hulled, three-masted barque was built in Hamburg, Germany, in 1936 and was originally commissioned as the Horst Wessel for the German Navy before being seized by the U.S. after World War II as reparations. The Eagle serves as the Coast Guard Academy's floating classroom and leadership laboratory, training future officers in navigation, engineering, and professional theory since 1946. It is the largest tall ship flying the American flag and the only active square-rigger in U.S. government service, featuring 23 sails totaling over 22,200 square feet. The ship is also a goodwill ambassador for U.S. diplomatic relations and has hosted presidents including John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and Harry Truman. Seattle is the seventh port on Eagle’s 14-week West Coast journey, with additional visits planned in Victoria, British Columbia.