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WELCOME ABOARD 

The Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild serves the community by preserving its living classrooms Gazela, Jupiter, and Poplar. We are best at teaching maritime trade skills, putting on public events, and connecting Philly with its maritime heritage. 

square and triangular sails from below at full sail

Meet the ships

Meet Philadelphia's official Tall Ship Gazela Primeiro, Philadelphia's oldest tugboat, Jupiter, and our floating workshop Barge Poplar.

a girl sawing a plank in a workshop

Support our mission

As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, the PSPG puts donors’ support to work by furthering our educational programs. Our mission is pretty simple: to bring people to the water.

two blonde girls and an older gentleman pulling on a rope on the gazela

Join us

Pitch in by becoming part of our crew! We have been volunteer ran since 1973. You don't need any experience, we welcome all people at PSPG. 

Celebrate with us this summer!

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Gazela Primeiro has returned from her sail to the Chesapeake Bay as part of Gazela’s 125th, and the nationwide celebration of America’s 250th, anniversary.

For decades, Gazela has been a place where people have gathered to create a community on board mainly through volunteer work. PSPG has evolved to foster that community through a spectrum of programs including internships, a pre-apprenticeship, summer camps, field trips, group tours, and water-front events. PSPG is seeking funding to support the continuing growth of its maritime education, workforce development initiatives, and participation beyond the historic America250 and Tall Ship Festival.

  • Saturday Workdays at Penn's Landing!
    Saturday Workdays at Penn's Landing!
    Aug 08, 2026, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST
    Gazela Primeiro, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
    We welcome you to volunteer aboard the Gazela, no membership or experience required! Come for the learnings, stay for the community.
  • Memorial for Pete Bailey
    Memorial for Pete Bailey
    Aug 08, 2026, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
    Gazela Primeiro, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
    We invite our PSPG community to join us in a celebration of a central part of the Guild's history: Pete Bailey. Enjoy Thanksgiving dishes, a shroud-lighting ceremony, and hopefully the firing of a blank cannon, while we exchange stories over special memorabilia from Pete.
  • Open Deck Tours at Penn's Landing
    Open Deck Tours at Penn's Landing
    Multiple Dates
    Sat, Aug 22
    Aug 22, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
    Independence Blue Cross RiverRink, 101 S Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
    Step aboard the Gazela for a tour of her deck! We'll be open for drop-ins between 10am-2pm, docked slightly North of her usual position, closer to the Independence Blue Cross RiverRink.
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