Eleanor Finch
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is one of the oldest commissioned naval warships still afloat, having been launched in 1797. The USS Constitution has a rich history, serving in numerous battles such as the War of 1812, where it earned its nickname Old Ironsides due to its sturdy oak sides. The ship measures 305 feet long, 43.6 feet wide, and has a displacement of approximately 1500 tons.
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What You'll Learn
The USS Constitution was one of the first frigates built for the US Navy
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 USS Constitution was one of the first frigates built for the US Navy, authorised for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and launched in 1797. It was the third of six frigates to be constructed, designed by Joshua Humphreys, and built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts. The name "Constitution" was one of ten names submitted to President George Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering.
Humphreys designed the frigates to be the US Navy's capital ships, and so the USS Constitution and her sister ships were larger and more heavily armed and built than standard frigates of the period. The USS Constitution's hull was built 21 inches (530 mm) thick, with a length between perpendiculars of 175 ft (53 m) and an overall length of 204 ft (62 m). Its width was 43 ft 6 in (13.26 m), and it required 60 acres (24 ha) of trees for its construction. The primary materials used 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. It achieved several victories during its early years, including a victory over the British frigate Guerriere on 19 August 1812. This battle earned it the nickname "Old Ironsides", as American sailors witnessed British shots failing to penetrate the ship's oak sides. The USS Constitution was removed from active service in 1882, but it remains a celebrated part of American naval history and has undergone several restorations.
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It was commissioned by George Washington in 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 USS Constitution was commissioned by George Washington in 1794. It was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794, also known as the 'Act to provide a Naval Armament', which created the new United States Navy. The name "Constitution" was among ten names submitted to President Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering.
Joshua Humphreys designed the Constitution and its sister ships to be larger and more heavily armed than the standard frigates of the period. They were designed to be the young Navy's capital ships. The Constitution was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts, between 1794 and 1797. Its copper bolts and fittings were forged by Paul Revere.
The ship's hull was built with triple layers of dense pine and oak, giving it an iron-like strength. The primary materials consisted of 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 ship measures 305 feet long from stem to stern, 43.6 feet wide, and the main mast stands 204 feet tall. It weighs about 1,500 tons.
The USS Constitution was first used to provide protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and to defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War. It achieved an enduring place in American naval tradition during the War of 1812, when it defeated five British warships, including the HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. The Constitution was removed from active service in 1882 and opened to the public in Boston Harbor in 1905. It has since undergone several restorations and continues to make trips into Boston Harbor each year.
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The ship was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston
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 built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts, in the North End of the city, near the present Coast Guard base. The keel was laid on November 1, 1794, and the ship was launched in 1797. It was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and was the third constructed.
Edmund Hartt (1744-1824) was a master carpenter and owned the shipyard in Boston where the USS Constitution was built. The shipyard was family-owned, and Hartt also built other ships, including the USS Boston (1799), USS Argus (1803), and USS Independence (1814). The USS Constitution was designed by Joshua Humphreys, who intended for it to be larger and more heavily armed than standard frigates of the period. The ship's hull was built 21 inches (530 mm) thick, and its length between perpendiculars was 175 ft (53 m), with an overall length of 204 ft (62 m) and a width of 43 ft 6 in (13.26 m).
The construction of the USS Constitution involved the labour of enslaved people. The primary materials used were pine and oak, including southern live oak cut from Gascoigne Bluff and milled near St. Simons Island, Georgia. The ship's thick oak hull played a role in its enduring reputation, as it was able to withstand British shot during the War of 1812, leading American sailors to dub it "Old Ironsides."
After its launch, the USS Constitution's first duties included protecting American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and defeating the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War. The ship continued to serve actively until 1882, when it was removed from service and opened to the public in Boston Harbor. It underwent restoration from 1927 to 1931 and was recommissioned, embarking on a tour of 90 American ports and attracting millions of visitors. The ship returned to its home port of Boston in May 1934 and resumed its role as a museum ship.
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It weighed about 1,500 tons
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is one of the oldest commissioned naval warships still afloat, having been launched in 1797. It was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794, and was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts.
The USS Constitution has a rich history and has played a significant role in American naval tradition. During the War of 1812, it achieved a notable victory over the British frigate Guerriere on August 19, 1812. Its sturdy construction, with triple layers of dense pine and oak, gave it an iron-like strength, earning it the nickname "Old Ironsides." The ship's officers and the press embraced this moniker, and it has endured ever since.
The USS Constitution's hull was built with a thickness of 21 inches (530 mm), a length between perpendiculars of 175 feet (53 m), an overall length of 204 feet (62 m), and a width of 43 feet 6 inches (13.26 m). This massive ship required 60 acres (24 hectares) of trees for its construction, primarily pine and oak. It weighed approximately 1,500 tons, making it a formidable presence on the high seas.
Over the years, the USS Constitution has undergone several upgrades and renovations. In 1927, it was restored and recommissioned, embarking on a journey to 90 American ports without sailing under its own power. Between 1927 and 1931, it was visited by over 4.5 million people. In 1934, it returned to its home port of Boston and continued to serve as a museum ship, receiving 100,000 visitors annually. The ship has been maintained by a dedicated crew and has undergone improvements such as upgraded heating systems and the addition of a sprinkler system for fire protection.
The USS Constitution remains a fully commissioned Navy ship and makes occasional trips into Boston Harbor. It is now docked at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Massachusetts and is open to the public for free guided tours throughout the year.
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The USS Constitution is still a fully-commissioned Navy ship
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, having been launched in 1797. The USS Constitution was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794, signed by President George Washington, and was the third constructed.
The USS Constitution was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts. Its hull was built 21 inches thick, with a length of 175 feet between perpendiculars and an overall length of 204 feet. The ship's copper bolts and fittings were forged by Paul Revere, and its hull was constructed with triple layers of dense pine and oak, giving it its iron-like strength.
The USS Constitution's first duties included protecting American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and defeating the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War. The ship achieved notable victories during the War of 1812, including defeating the British frigate HMS Guerriere on August 19, 1812. During this battle, the USS Constitution earned its nickname "Old Ironsides" as British cannonballs bounced off its oak sides. The USS Constitution defeated five British warships during the War of 1812 and captured many merchant ships.
Despite being removed from active service in 1882, the USS Constitution remains a fully-commissioned Navy ship to this day. It is currently docked at Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts, and is open for free guided tours throughout the year. The ship makes a few trips into Boston Harbor each year, such as on the 4th of July, to ensure equal exposure to the elements while docked. The USS Constitution sailed again in July 1997 to celebrate its bicentennial and once more in August 2012 to mark the 200th anniversary of its victory over the Guerriere.
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Frequently asked questions
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy and the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat.
The USS Constitution was launched in 1797 and is one of the six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794.
The USS Constitution weighs about 1,500 tons.
Joshua Humphreys designed the USS Constitution to be the young Navy's capital ship, making it larger and more heavily armed than the standard frigates of the period.
The USS Constitution's first duties were to provide protection for American merchant ships during the Quasi-War with France and to defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War.
