Smoke blows from the ship.

USS Constitution renders a gun salute during the Sail 250 Boston Parade of Sail on July 11, 2026. (Whitten Helton/U.S. Navy)

STARS AND STRIPES

Published July 12, 2026

Two historic ships, the Navy’s USS Constitution and the U.S. Coast Guard’s Barque Eagle, highlighted the parade of tall ships during the weekend at Sail 250 Boston.

Sail 250 Boston celebrates America’s maritime heritage and the nation’s 250th anniversary by bringing together U.S. and international ships, plus Marines, sailors and community partners throughout the city.

Built in Boston and launched in 1797, USS Constitution is the world’s oldest commissioned warship still afloat. During the War of 1812 the ship gained fame and its nickname “Old Ironsides.” Constitution remains a training and ceremonial ship for the Navy. It also serves as an educational asset, hosting tours for visitors.

In May, USCGC Eagle celebrated 80 years since it was commissioned into the Coast Guard. Launched in 1936 as the Nazi training ship Horst Wessel, the steel-hulled barque — the name for three-masted sailing ships — was obtained by the United States after World War II as a war prize, refurbished and put into service as the main training vessel for Coast Guard Academy cadets. Hundreds of Coast Guard officers received their introduction to seafaring aboard the Eagle.

Boston is the final stop in the Sail 250 in series; the other ports were: New Orleans; Norfolk, Va.; Baltimore; and New York.

People pack into the space near the shore to watch the ships.

A crowd lines the shoreline at Castle Island to watch the Sail 250 Boston Parade of Sail on July 11, 2026. (Cody Beam/U.S. Navy)

Dozens of small boats sail near Eagle.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle sails in Boston Harbor during the Sail 250 Boston Parade of Sail on July 11, 2026. (Cody Beam/U.S. Navy)

The port and Boston skyline are in the background as Eagle sails past.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Barque Eagle sails in Boston Harbor during the Sail 250 Boston Parade of Sail, July 11, 2026. (Cody Beam/U.S. Navy)

USS Constitution sails in Boston Harbor during the Sail250 Boston Parade of Sail on July 11, 2026.

USS Constitution sails in Boston Harbor during the Sail250 Boston Parade of Sail on July 11, 2026. (Cody Beam/U.S. Navy)

Varitek reads displays at the memorial.

Jason Varitek, former Boston Red Sox catcher, tours the 9/11 memorial room aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington ahead of Sail 250 Boston on July 9, 2026. (Cody Beam/U.S. Navy)

The bow of the Arlington is in view.

The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington arrives in Boston ahead of Sail 250 Boston on July 9, 2026. (Cody Beam/U.S. Navy)

A large American flag flies aboard Constitution.

USS Constitution prepares to moor at Peir 1 in the Charlestown Navy Yard during the Sail 250 Boston Parade of Sail, July 11, 2026. (Nicholas M. Skyles/U.S. Navy)

Constitution is accompanied by tugboats.

USS Constitution sails in the Boston Harbor during the Sail 250 Boston Parade of Sail, July 11, 2026. (Cody Beam/U.S. Navy)

The tall ship with many sails cruises past onlookers.

German Navy ship Gorch Fock transits Boston Harbor during the Sail250 Boston Parade of Sail, July 11, 2026. (Edir Coronado/U.S. Navy)

A crowd gathers on the pier as Constitution, flying a large American flag, sails past.

Onlookers gather to observe as USS Constitution prepares to moor at Pier 1 in the Charlestown Navy Yard during the Sail 250 Boston Parade of Sail on July 11, 2026. (Nicholas M. Skyles/U.S. Navy)

The ship with three sails up sails past.

U.S. Sailing School Vessel Tabor Boy transits Boston Harbor during the Sail 250 Boston Parade of Sail, July 11, 2026. (Melissa Arms Kelly/U.S. Navy)

Crowds gather near the harbor. The Bunker Hill Monument stands tall amongst them.

USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned U.S. Navy warship still in service, leads the Sail 250 Boston Parade of Sail on July 11, 2026. (Edir Coronado/U.S. Navy)

Sailors in their whites perform.

Members of the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard Drill Team perform during a reception aboard USS Arlington as part of Sail 250 Boston on July 10, 2026. (Donovan Pimentel/U.S. Marine Corps)

The Marines stand in between a seated gathering during the ceremony.

U.S. Marines with the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Sail 250 color guard detail stand at parade rest during a welcome ceremony as part of Sail 250 Boston on July 10, 2026.  (Michael Robinson/U.S. Marine Corps)

The two cadets show big smiles.

Ty Tualemoso, left, and Jun Beato, cadets at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, pose for a photo aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle on July 9, 2026. (Ashly Murphy/U.S. Coast Guard)

Ships

Featured on Instagram

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

STARS AND STRIPES VIDEOS

AROUND THE WEB

STRIPES TOP NEWS