Labor Day Week 2017: 'America’s Tall Ship' Visits Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Are you staying in town for Labor Day weekend? Luckily, there will be plenty to do in Alexandria, not the least of which is "America's Tall Ship" coming to the waterfront.

Like the city it's visiting, the Coast Guard's Eagle ship has a bit of history behind it. Built by Germans in 1936, the United States received Eagle as a war reparation, and the Coast Guard re-commissioned it. It has been based out of New London, Conn. ever since and has served Coast Guard Academy cadets and incoming officers.

Today, it is the largest tall ship flying the U.S. flag and the only active commissioned sailing vessel in the military.

Eagle will arrive in Alexandria around 8:30 a.m. by passing under the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Monday, Sept. 4, docking at Point Lumley Park (1 Duke Street) at approximately 9:30 a.m. Residents can watch the arrival at Jones Point Park, Fords Landing City Park or Point Lumley Park.

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Eagle will host free tours on Monday, Sept. 4, from 1 to 8 p.m., and Wednesday, September 6, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Point Lumley Park. Tickets are not needed. There will be no tours the other times Eagle is in town, but it can still be seen from the park.

The ship will depart Alexandria on Friday, Sept. 8, at approximately 4:15 a.m., and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge will open up as Eagle makes its way to Baltimore.

See more information about the ship's visit here.

Image via U.S. Coast Guard