Tall Ship Gazela050

The tall ship Gazela, a Portuguese-built wooden square-rigger ship built in 1883 to carry fishermen to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, has been docked at Penn's Landing for more than 30 years. The Gazela and its companion vessel, the historic tugboat Jupiter, built in 1902, represent important periods in hands-on seamanship from the late 19th and early 20th century. Both ships are managed by the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild, and maintained by a core of modern-day sailors and shipwrights. On weekends throughout the summer, the public can watch the Gazela volunteers hoist the yardarm, brace the sails, and climb the rigging. If they're not involved in training exercises or otherwise busy, volunteers working on the ship are happy to provide free deck tours to guests who drop by. Group tours for camps, schools, and other organizations are $8 per person (chaperones are free) and must be arranged in advance by phone. The Gazela also hosts seaman's knot tying classes and other maritime activities that are open to the public.