News From South Carolina

Tall ship docks in Charleston for America 250 tour

South Carolina Public Radio | By Victoria Hansen

Published June 12, 2026 at 1:04 PM EDT

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle is known as "America's Tall Ship" and is docked in Charleston as part of a tour celebrating the nation's 250's anniversary.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle is in Charleston this weekend, offering visitors a chance to step into maritime history.

The largest tall ship flying the American flag has docked in Charleston for the weekend as part of its nationwide tour celebrating the country’s 250^th anniversary.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle is a training vessel that’s used to teach Academy cadets seamanship, teamwork and leadership. Currently, 150 cadets are on board.

Known as "America's Tall Ship," the vessel's height is that of a 15-story building. Its length is comparable to a football field.

A U.S. Coast Guardsman gives a tour of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle to residents of Charleston, South Carolina, June 11, 2026. The vessel serves as the Coast Guard’s premier training ship, where cadets develop navigation, communication and leadership skills through hands-on maritime training.

The Eagle was built in Germany in 1936 and was taken as a war reparation following World War II. The ship was commissioned in 1946 into the U.S. Coast Guard. It has hosted Presidents Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, and Richard Nixon.

The public is invited aboard this weekend. The ship is docked at the cruise terminal in downtown Charleston at 196 Concord St. Tours are free and available Saturday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

The Eagle will remain docked in Charleston through Sunday. Its next stop is Norfolk, Va. but its permanent home is New England, Conn.