Jonah Patel
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. It was launched in 1797 and is one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. The ship was built at Edmund Hartt's Shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts, and its construction cost about $302,000. The USS Constitution was designed by Joshua Humphreys to be larger and more heavily armed than standard frigates of the period. Its hull was built using white oak and southern live oak, with a thickness of 21 inches, and it stood 38 1/2 feet from the bottom of the keel to the top of the bulwarks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Launch date | 21 October 1797 |
| Builder | Joshua Humphreys |
| Shipyard | Edmund Hartt's Shipyard, Boston, Massachusetts |
| Cost | $302,000 |
| Hull thickness | 21 inches (530 mm) |
| Length | 204 ft (62 m) overall; 175 ft (53 m) between perpendiculars |
| Width | 43 ft 6 in (13.26 m) |
| Materials | Pine and oak |
| Labour | Built using enslaved labour |
| Wars | Quasi-War with France, First Barbary War, War of 1812, American Civil War |
| Other names | Old Ironsides, Old Constitution |
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What You'll Learn
- The USS Constitution was built at Edmund Hartt's Shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts
- The keel was laid in 1794 and the ship was launched in 1797
- It was built using pine and oak, with 60 acres of trees needed for its construction
- The ship's hull was built 21 inches thick and it stood 38 1/2 feet tall
- The USS Constitution was one of six frigates authorised for construction by the Naval Act of 1794
The USS Constitution was built at Edmund Hartt's Shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. It was launched in 1797 and was the third of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. The ship was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts. The shipyard was located near the present Coast Guard base.
Edmund Hartt (1744-1824) was a master carpenter and owned the shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts, where the USS Constitution was constructed. The total construction cost was about $302,000. The ship's hull was built 21 inches thick, and its length between perpendiculars was 175 feet, with a 204-foot overall length and a width of 43 feet and six inches. The primary materials used in its construction were pine and oak, including southern live oak cut from Gascoigne Bluff and milled near St. Simons Island, Georgia. Enslaved workers were used to harvest the oak used for the ship's construction.
The USS Constitution's first duties were to provide protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and to defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War. The ship is most noted for its actions during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, capturing numerous British merchantmen and five warships: HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. Its capture of Guerriere earned it the nickname "Old Ironsides."
After its illustrious military career, the USS Constitution served as a training ship for the United States Naval Academy during the American Civil War. It continued to serve as a flagship in the Mediterranean and African squadrons and even circled the globe in the 1840s. The ship was retired from active service in 1881 and served as a receiving ship until it was designated a museum ship in 1907. Today, the USS Constitution remains a testament to the craftsmanship of Edmund Hartt and his family-owned shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts.
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The keel was laid in 1794 and the ship was launched in 1797
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. The keel was laid in Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 1, 1794, and the ship was launched in 1797. It was the third of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. The act provided funds to build these frigates to protect American shipping interests.
Joshua Humphreys designed the Constitution and its sister ships to be larger, deeper, longer on keel, and more heavily armed than standard frigates of the period. This was because the United States could not match the naval power of European states at the time. The design called for diagonal riders to restrict hogging and sagging, giving the hull greater strength. The ship's hull was built 21 inches thick, with a length of 175 feet between perpendiculars and a total length of 204 feet.
The USS Constitution was launched from Boston Harbor after three attempts. Its first duties included protecting American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and defeating the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War. This marked the beginning of the ship's long and illustrious career, which included notable achievements such as capturing five British warships during the War of 1812.
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It was built using pine and oak, with 60 acres of trees needed for its construction
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. The ship was launched in 1797, on 21 October in Boston, Massachusetts.
The USS Constitution was built using pine and oak. An impressive 60 acres of trees were needed for its construction. Southern live oak was cut from Gascoigne Bluff and milled near St. Simons Island, Georgia. Enslaved workers were used to harvest the oak used for the ship's construction. USS Constitution Museum historian Carl Herzog stated that "the forced labor of enslaved people was an expediency that Navy officials and contractors saw as fundamental to the job... enslaved people were essential to the construction of naval warships built to secure the very American freedoms they were denied."
The ship was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts. Its hull was built 21 inches thick and its length between perpendiculars was 175 feet, with a 204-foot length overall and a width of 43 feet and 6 inches. The USS Constitution was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and the third constructed.
Joshua Humphreys designed the frigates to be larger and more heavily armed than the standard frigates of the period. The name "Constitution" was among ten names submitted to President George Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering for the frigates that were to be constructed.
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The ship's hull was built 21 inches thick and it stood 38 1/2 feet tall
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. The ship was launched in 1797 and was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts.
The ship's hull was built with a thickness of 21 inches (530 mm) and a length between perpendiculars of 175 ft (53 m). The overall length of the ship was 204 ft (62 m), and it stood at a height of 38 1/2 feet. The construction required 60 acres (24 ha) of trees, primarily pine and oak. The oak used was sourced from Gascoigne Bluff and milled near St. Simons Island, Georgia, with enslaved workers contributing to its harvesting.
The USS Constitution was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794, which created the new United States Navy. The design by Joshua Humphreys was notable for the time, featuring a long keel and narrow beam, allowing for the mounting of heavy guns.
The ship's hull thickness and overall sturdy construction contributed to its durability and longevity, enabling it to remain afloat and operational for over two centuries.
Today, the USS Constitution is a fully commissioned U.S. Navy ship, with a crew of officers and sailors who participate in ceremonies, educational programs, and special events while also providing tours to visitors.
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The USS Constitution was one of six frigates authorised for construction by the Naval Act of 1794
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. The ship was launched in 1797, one of six original frigates authorised for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and the third to be constructed.
The name "Constitution" was one of ten names submitted to President George Washington by the Secretary of War, Timothy Pickering, for the frigates that were to be built. Joshua Humphreys designed the frigates to serve as the young Navy's capital ships. As a result, the Constitution and its sister ships were larger and more heavily armed than the standard frigates of that time. The ship was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts. Its hull was built 21 inches thick, with a length of 175 feet between perpendiculars and a total length of 204 feet.
The USS Constitution's first duties included providing protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and defeating the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War. The ship distinguished itself during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, capturing numerous British merchantmen and five warships: HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. Its capture of Guerriere earned it the nickname "Old Ironsides", which added to the public adoration that had previously saved it from scrapping.
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Frequently asked questions
The USS Constitution was launched on October 21, 1797.
The USS Constitution was built at Edmund Hartt's Shipyard in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts.
The USS Constitution was designed by Joshua Humphreys, a Philadelphia-based shipwright.
The USS Constitution's first duties were to provide protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and to defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War.
The USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate. Its hull was built 21 inches thick and used white oak, southern live oak, pine, and Douglas fir.
