The Texas Seaport Museum is a maritime history museum at Pier 22 in Galveston, Texas, home to the 1877 tall ship ELISSA. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical tips for planning a visit — part of my wider Galveston travel guides.
This guide was last checked in August 2026. There’s major news to flag: ELISSA returned to Galveston on 15 August 2026 after a 66-day, 5,300-nautical-mile voyage up the East Coast for America’s 250th anniversary commemorations. Daily tours aboard the ship are expected to resume later in August 2026, and admission is temporarily discounted while normal operations resume — check the official site for the latest before visiting.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Tue–Sun, 10am–5:30pm. Closed Mondays. Last admission 4:30pm. |
| Ticket prices | Adult $14, Youth (6–18) $8, Children 5 & under free (current, temporarily discounted rate). |
| Address | Pier 22, 2200 Harborside Drive, Galveston, TX 77550 |
| Nearest transport | Galveston Trolley Downtown Loop, $1 per ride, stops near the Strand and Pier 21 area. |
| Typical time needed | Around 1 to 1.5 hours. |
Texas Seaport Museum opening hours: when to visit
The Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5.30pm, and closed on Mondays. Last admission is 4.30pm, an hour before closing.
Additional closures apply on 25–26 January, 7–12 November, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. It’s worth checking the official calendar around these dates, since the museum sometimes opens with reduced hours either side of a closure period.
5 great experiences around Galveston to book now
- 👻 Hear spooky tales from Galveston’s past on an evening ghost tour.
- 🚴 Join an e-bike tour to discover Galveston Island’s wilder side.
- 🌴 Enjoy Moody Gardens, with skip-the-line admission to the Aquarium and Rainforest Pyramids.
- 🐬 Cruise the harbour, spotting dolphins in their natural habitat.
- 🏛️ Visit Galveston’s historic mansions on an architecture tour.
Texas Seaport Museum ticket prices: how much does entry cost?
The current admission price is $14 for adults, $8 for youth aged 6 to 18, and free for children 5 and under; Galveston Historical Foundation members also enter free. This includes access to the “Ship To Shore” immigration exhibit and the Galveston Immigration Database, alongside the tall ship ELISSA once tours resume.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026. Check the official site for current details or to buy tickets online.
Advance group tour discounts are available; call the Foundation directly for current group rates and scheduling.
How to get to the Texas Seaport Museum: transport guide
The Museum is at Pier 22 on Harborside Drive, in Galveston’s historic waterfront district, close to the Strand Historic District. The Galveston Trolley’s Downtown Loop runs along the Strand and connects to the Seawall Loop, at $1 per ride with free transfers; bring exact change, as drivers can’t make change.
The Island Transit Bus also serves the Harborside route, with a stop within walking distance of the pier.
Parking at the Texas Seaport Museum
Paid parking lots are available near Pier 21 and Pier 22, though spaces can be limited on weekends and during events. Arriving early in the day improves the chances of finding a convenient spot.
How long to spend at the Texas Seaport Museum
Most visitors spend around 1 to 1.5 hours, covering the museum exhibits, the theatre presentation on ELISSA’s rescue and restoration, and the ship herself once tours resume. Add extra time if also visiting the separate Ship To Shore immigration experience.
Accessibility at the Texas Seaport Museum
The museum galleries and restrooms are completely wheelchair accessible. Boarding ELISSA’s main deck involves about 8 steps and a ramp, and boarding the Seagull II tour boat involves a couple of steps that vary with the tide.
Visitors with specific accessibility needs are encouraged to call ahead so the Museum can help accommodate them.
Inside the Texas Seaport Museum: what to see
The centrepiece is the 1877 tall ship ELISSA, a square-rigged iron barque rescued from a Greek scrapyard in the 1970s and restored by the Galveston Historical Foundation. She’s one of only three ships of her kind still actively sailing anywhere in the world, and carries designations as a National Historic Landmark and one of America’s Treasures from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The adjoining museum and theatre tell the story of ELISSA’s rescue and restoration, while the “Ship To Shore” exhibit traces the experience of 19th-century immigrants arriving in Galveston. The Galveston Immigration Database, searchable both in-museum and online, holds records for more than 133,000 immigrants who entered the US through the port.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Checking the official site before visiting is worth it right now, since ELISSA’s tours are resuming after her recent voyage. |
| Crowds | Weekday visits tend to be quieter than weekends, especially around evening events at the pier. |
| Layout | The museum, theatre and ship are all within Pier 22, making for an easy, compact visit. |
| Entry process | Tickets can be bought online in advance or on arrival at the Museum. |
| On-site logistics | The Trolley’s exact-change requirement is easy to forget — bring a $1 bill or four quarters if planning to ride it here. |
Frequently asked questions about the Texas Seaport Museum
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Texas Seaport Museum open on Mondays? | No, it’s closed on Mondays; it’s open Tuesday to Sunday. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | No, tickets can be bought on arrival, though booking online in advance is also possible. |
| Is ELISSA currently open for tours? | She returned to Galveston on 15 August 2026 after a long voyage; daily tours are expected to resume later in August 2026 — check the official site for the latest. |
| Is the Texas Seaport Museum wheelchair accessible? | The museum and restrooms are fully accessible; boarding ELISSA involves about 8 steps and a ramp. |
| Is parking free at the Texas Seaport Museum? | No, nearby lots are paid, and spaces can be limited on weekends. |
Things to do near the Texas Seaport Museum
- Bishop’s Palace: An ornate 1892 Victorian mansion, a short drive from the Seaport.
- The Bryan Museum: A museum of Texas and Western history, also a short drive away.
- Galveston Railroad Museum: A museum of historic locomotives and rail cars, a short drive from the Seaport.
- Moody Mansion: Another restored Galveston mansion open for tours, a short drive away.
- The Strand Historic District: A historic shopping and dining street a short walk from the Seaport.
Alternative attractions to visit
- Galveston Naval Museum: A museum aboard historic naval vessels, also on Galveston’s waterfront.
- Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum: A retired drilling rig turned museum, right next to the Seaport at Pier 19.
- Downtown Aquarium, Houston: A large aquarium and entertainment complex, about an hour’s drive away.
More Texas travel
- Best stops on the Austin to Galveston drive and the Dallas to Galveston drive.
- Getting to Houston: The best stops on the Abilene to Houston drive, Arlington to Houston drive, Dallas to Houston drive and Waco to Houston drive.
- Getting to Houston from interstate: The best stops on the Little Rock to Houston drive and Nashville to Houston drive.
- Texas road trips from Houston: The best stops on the Houston to Amarillo drive, Houston to Fort Worth drive and Houston to Lubbock drive.
- Interstate road trips from Houston: Where to stop on the Houston to Albuqueruque drive, Houston to Hot Springs AR drive, Houston to Memphis drive, Houston to Oklahoma City drive and Houston to Wichita drive.
