It’s not every day the tallest ship in America docks in Victoria – but this week, the Eagle has landed.
Towering at 147.3 feet tall with three masts and iconic square sails, the USCGC Eagle arrived Monday after setting sail from Seattle, drawing eyes and camera lenses across the Inner Harbour.
Built in Germany in 1936 and claimed by the United States after the Second World War, the 295-foot barque is now the country’s only active square-rigger – and a floating classroom for the U.S. Coast Guard.
Up to 150 cadets call the Eagle home for six weeks at a time, learning the ropes – literally – under the guidance of seasoned officers and enlisted crew.
The vessel is midway through a 14-week journey that started in New London, Conn. and will wrap in September after visits to ports including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Panama City.
For many in Victoria, it’s a rare chance to step aboard a ship steeped in nearly 90 years of maritime history.
“I just saw this huge ship approaching the shore and was genuinely shocked – I won’t say scared, but it was definitely an interesting sight,” said local resident Connor Parks, who came down to the harbour with friends. “Now we get to tour it and learn a ton. We didn’t think our Wednesday morning would be touring a ship, but we’re pretty happy to be learning.”
The Eagle, which last visited Victoria in 2008, is open for free public tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the Canadian Coast Guard pier (25 Huron St.) in James Bay.
One of those making the trip down to the dock was Colwood resident and retired Canadian Coast Guard member Nole Emery, who served for 32 years along the West Coast.
“I sailed all the way up to Juneau, Alaska. We had good times – fishing, beachcombing, month on, month off. I enjoyed it very, very much,” Emery said, reflecting on his time with the Coast Guard.
Tucked under his arm was a vintage Eagle poster from the late ’80s – a piece he’d had for decades. He explained how a friend printed it through a connection in the U.S., and said he was hoping to find someone on board who could tell him more about it – or maybe even trade for another.
“I’m hoping to talk to a few of the guys – maybe even the captain – to see if he has one of these," Emery said. "It's just such a surreal feeling to see the ship in person."
Beyond the history and the tours, the Eagle’s visit serves a deeper purpose: building bonds across borders and giving future Coast Guard officers hands-on experience aboard a traditional tall ship.
“She’s a piece of living history,” Emery added. “To see her here, all these years later – it’s something special.”
The Eagle sets sail for San Francisco on Friday.
