In 1976, Operation Sail's international tall-ship parade first gathered in New York City for the United States Bicentennial.
The event, commonly called Op Sail, brought sailing vessels from many countries to the United States. The fleet assembled in New York Harbor for Independence Day celebrations and an international naval review attended by President Gerald Ford.
The parade later continued to Boston, where participating vessels took part in further anniversary observances. This two-city sequence is why Philadelphia, Boston, and New York can all appear in accounts of the 1976 maritime celebration, but New York was the first gathering point.
Sixteen square-rigged school ships were listed for the Grand Parade of Sailing Ships, accompanied by more than one hundred supporting vessels. The spectacle became one of the most recognizable international events of the Bicentennial.