Historic Boston: Tall Ships

Photo of the Europa, tagged "Bostonist" by Flickr user GregMacKay

We don’t need to tell you that the tall ships are here. Bostonist readers have been tagging lots of great photos of the ships on Flickr, and we’re planning on heading to the waterfront later on today to check them out for ourselves.

There are lots of reasons to go see the tall ships. Maybe you’re a history nut. Maybe you’re looking for an excuse to talk like an old-time sailor. Maybe you just like all things wind-powered. Maybe you’re looking for a new backdrop for your Facebook profile picture. Or maybe you’re just looking for something free to do this weekend. Whatever your reason, go. The tall ships are just plain cool.

Boston’s role as an American port city has changed significantly since the city’s early days. It started off as the busiest port in the colonies in the 17th and early 18th centuries, only to later be eclipsed by the growth of Philadelphia and New York in the mid-18th century. In the years after the revolution, Boston became famous for its shipbuilding industry - from warships to clipper ships to fishing schooners, hundreds of ships were built in Boston and the surrounding area. The Charlestown Navy Yard alone produced more than 200 warships from its opening in 1800 until its closing in 1974. The 19th century saw international trade centered in New York and the decline of Boston’s shipbuilding days, as wooden ships were replaced with newer iron and steam-powered ships. Today Boston’s port is used mostly for container transportation, and there has also been a recent growth in cruise-ship traffic.