The Coast Guard Academy's three masted training barque, Coast Guard Cutter Eagle (WIX 327), sets sails off the coast of Oregon during the 1999 summer trip. The cutter, which is homeported in New London, Conn., holds the distinction of being the largest tall ship to fly the Stars and Stripes. USCG photo by Bruce Borthwick, YN1. Submitted photo

The Coast Guard Cutter Eagle will be in Astoria and open for free public tours from June 12 until June 16. This is Eagle’s first visit to Astoria since 1999, and offers an opportunity to climb aboard a unique Tall Ship. The Eagle will be docked at the 17th Street Pier, next to the Columbia River Maritime Museum. Public tours are tentatively scheduled as follows:

2 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 12;

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, June 13;

10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 14;

10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 15.

The USCGC Eagle (WIX-327) is a 295-foot barque used as a training cutter for future officers of the United States Coast Guard. It is the only active commissioned sailing vessel in American government service and is the seventh U.S. Navy or Coast Guard ship to bear the name in a line dating back to 1792. Each summer, Eagle conducts cruises with cadets from the United States Coast Guard Academy and candidates from the Officer Candidate School for periods ranging from one week to two months. These cruises fulfill multiple roles; the primary mission is training the cadets and officer candidates, but the ship also performs a public relations role. Often, Eagle makes calls at foreign ports as a goodwill ambassador.