U.S. COAST GUARD EAGLE
The Eagle has landed! In recent weeks, Charleston area residents and visitors have had the chance to deck the halls of seafaring ships.
Billed as America’s Tall Ship, the USCGC Eagle was docked downtown for a few days and open to tours.
The vessel was built in Germany in 1936. Then it was called the Horst Wessel. Angela Pilson (keep reading) noted in her post that the Germans also used the ship for training- of Hitler youth! Look at the Horst Wessel link above to see an old black-and-white image of the ship from that period. It's awesome!
After World War II, the U.S. attained the ship as part of reparations, the spoils of war, you could say. It became part of the U.S. Coast Guard in 1946.
At 295 feet, almost a football field long, the USCGC Eagle is a three-mast barque that serves as a training vessel for future Coast Guard officers.
At 295 feet, almost a football field long, the USCGC Eagle is a three-mast barque that serves as a training vessel for future Coast Guard officers.
A barque is a sailing ship with three or more masts that are square in shape.
Tours began last Friday, June 12, at 10 a.m. I was in line by 9:30 and was glad I arrived early when the line was short compared to the long line I walked by after about an hour on board Eagle.
