Tall Ship Sails Into Alexandria: Here's How to Visit El Galeon

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- El Galeón, a full-size reconstructed Spanish sailing vessel used in early Colonial times, has sailed into port in Alexandria. Here's information about the ship and how to see it, courtesy of Visit Alexandria:

Experience daily tours aboard this replica of a 16th-century Spanish galleon and learn about early European sailing techniques and technology. Five of the six decks are available for tour, which holds an exhibition about the "San Pelayo," the Spanish galleon that founded St. Augustine, the first city in the U.S. The ship carries an all-Spanish crew that lives and breathes the history of the ship and her travels from port to port and in the open sea.
Tour information:

• El Galeón is open to visitors daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Ticket price: $10 adult, $5 children under 12, free for children under 5 Advance tickets are available online, or at the Visitor Center at 221 King Street, or at the entrance of the vessel at the Alexandria Marina.

Many Spanish expeditions were sent to survey the American coasts in the 16th century. These explorations were soon followed by numerous expeditions for trade and for populating the newly discovered areas. More and more supplies and equipment were delivered to the New World. In time, the ships that were used for exploration were insufficient for the increasing volume of traffic between Spain and America, and it became necessary to design and build a new type of ship with more cargo capacity, defense capabilities and better maneuverability. It was during this period that Spanish galleons arose. It was the captains of the Spanish navy, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and Álvaro de Bazán, who designed the definitive long and relatively narrow hulled galleon for Spain in the 1550s.

PHOTO of Woodrow Wilson drawbridge and ship Tuesday night, courtesy of @AlexandriaVAGov