GALVESTON, Texas (April 13, 2023) Pride of Baltimore 2, a square-topsail schooner and reconstruction of an early 19th-century Baltimore Clipper, fires her cannons as she transits the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Galveston Beach during Tall Ships Challenge Galveston 2023. Pride of Baltimore 2 is Maryland’s working symbol of the great natural resources and spectacular beauty of the Chesapeake Bay region and a reminder of America’s rich maritime heritage. Pride of Baltimore II’s mission is to educate the public on Maryland’s maritime history, tradition and commerce opportunities. Founded in 1973, Tall Ships America is a non-profit organization commended by Congress as The National Sail Training Organization representing the United States. The 2023 Tall Ships Galveston festival at the Galveston Historic Seaport hosts tours of participating ships, numerous special events, sail-away excursions, music, food, and fun in a family-friendly format. Galveston Island serves as one of three ports for the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Gulf Coast 2023 Series, which features a fleet of ships traveling across the Gulf of Mexico as they visit other participating cities.