Tall Ship Glenlee

Glenlee is a steel-hulled three-masted sailing vessel now moored as a museum at Riverside, allowing visitors to explore life at sea. The ship preserves its original structure with historic rigging and functional areas including cargo holds and crew quarters throughout the vessel.

The vessel was built in 1896 at Port Glasgow and initially operated as a cargo ship traveling to ports around the world. After decades in commercial trade, it was later repurposed and eventually preserved for future generations to learn from.

The ship reveals how sailors lived more than a century ago, with cramped quarters and simple furnishings throughout the vessel. Exhibits explain what kinds of goods were carried and how trade routes connected ports across the world.

The vessel is centrally located along the river and easily walkable from the city center. Visitors can freely board and explore the different decks at their own pace, though staircases are narrow and the sloped deck surface requires careful footing.

The vessel operated under different names throughout its history, including a period as a training ship under Spanish Navy command. This varied past makes it a rare example of the international journeys that sailing ships undertook during their working lives.