Omar Bennett
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 in the world, having been built in Boston, Massachusetts, and launched in 1797. The USS Constitution fought in several battles during the War of 1812, earning its nickname Old Ironsides due to its sturdy construction. During the American Civil War, the ship served as a training vessel for the United States Naval Academy. It was decommissioned in 1881 or 1882 and designated a museum ship in 1907. The USS Constitution has undergone several refits and restorations and remains a fully commissioned Navy ship, making occasional trips into Boston Harbor.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of decommissioning | 14 June (no year specified) |
| Reason for decommissioning | Lack of funds for an overhaul |
| Location during the Civil War | Evacuated to Newport, Rhode Island |
| Years of service during the Civil War | April 1861 to August 1865 |
| Role during the Civil War | Training ship for the US Naval Academy |
| Retirement from active service | 1881 |
| Post-retirement role | Receiving ship at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine |
| Year of designation as a museum ship | 1907 |
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What You'll Learn
USS Constitution's role during the Civil War
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.
During the Civil War, the USS Constitution served as a training ship for the United States Naval Academy. It was ordered to relocate further north after threats were made against it by Confederate sympathizers. Several companies of Massachusetts volunteer soldiers were stationed aboard for protection during the move. The ship was then evacuated to Newport, Rhode Island, from April 1861 to August 1865.
After the Civil War, the USS Constitution continued to serve as a training ship for the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, where hundreds of young naval cadets lived on board and honed their naval skills. The ship was retired from active service in 1881 and served as a receiving ship until being designated a museum ship in 1907.
The USS Constitution has a long and illustrious history beyond its role in the Civil War. It was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794, built at Edmund Hartt's Shipyard in Boston. Its first duties included providing protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and defeating Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War. The ship also saw significant action in the War of 1812, where it earned its nickname "Old Ironsides" due to its seemingly impenetrable sides. During this war, the USS Constitution defeated four British warships, including the HMS Guerriere, and captured many merchant ships. After the War of 1812, the ship served in the Mediterranean, protecting vital trade routes and American diplomatic interests.
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The ship's evacuation to Newport, Rhode Island
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.
At the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, the USS Constitution was ordered to relocate further north after threats were made against her by Confederate sympathizers. Several companies of Massachusetts volunteer soldiers were stationed aboard for her protection. The ship was subsequently relocated, along with the Naval Academy, to Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island, for the duration of the war. The USS Constitution was anchored in Newport Harbor for four years, from April 1861 to August 1865, and served as a teaching vessel.
During the Civil War, the USS Constitution served as a training ship for the United States Naval Academy. It carried American artwork and industrial displays to the Paris Exposition of 1878. The ship retired from active service in 1881 and served as a receiving ship until being designated a museum ship in 1907.
The evacuation of the USS Constitution to Newport, Rhode Island, was part of the Navy's response to the outbreak of the Civil War. The ship was moved to a safer location away from the threat of Confederate sympathizers and continued to serve as a valuable training and teaching vessel during its time in Newport. The evacuation ensured the protection and preservation of this historic warship, allowing it to continue its legacy as one of the most famous warships in US history.
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Constitution's retirement from active duty
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 built at Edmund Hartt's Shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts, and launched in 1797. The ship was commissioned and named by George Washington in 1794.
During the War of 1812, the USS Constitution captured numerous British merchant ships and five warships, including HMS Guerriere, earning her the nickname "Old Ironsides". The ship continued to serve as a flagship in the Mediterranean and African squadrons and circled the world in the 1840s.
In the 1850s, the USS Constitution patrolled the African coast in search of slavers. During the American Civil War, she served as a training ship for the United States Naval Academy. She was decommissioned in 1881 or 1882 and retired from active service, serving as a receiving ship at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, until she was designated a museum ship in 1907.
After her retirement from active duty, the USS Constitution continued to undergo repairs and refitting. In 1896, Massachusetts Congressman John F. Fitzgerald proposed to Congress that funds be appropriated to restore the ship, and she returned to Boston for her centennial celebrations in 1897. In 1900, Congress authorized the restoration of the Constitution, but funding had to be raised privately. Despite the efforts of various groups, the necessary funds were not raised. In 1905, public sentiment again saved the ship from scrapping. The USS Constitution was eventually restored in 1925 through donations from school children and patriotic groups. She was recommissioned in 1931 and embarked on a three-year, 90-port tour of the United States.
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Conversion into a receiving 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.
In 1857, twelve years before the Civil War broke out, the USS Constitution was moved to dry dock at the Portsmouth Navy Yard for conversion into a training ship. Some of the earliest known photographs of the ship were taken during this refitting, which added classrooms on its spar and gun decks. The ship's armament was reduced to only 16 guns, and its rating was changed to a "2nd rate ship".
The USS Constitution served as a training ship for the United States Naval Academy during the Civil War. In April 1861, it was ordered to relocate further north due to threats made by Confederate sympathizers. The ship was evacuated to Newport, Rhode Island, from April 1861 to August 1865.
After the Civil War, the USS Constitution continued to serve as a training ship for the Naval Academy. In 1881, it was retired from active service and sent to the Portsmouth Navy Yard to be turned into a receiving ship. A large barn was built over its upper deck, and it included barracks and offices for sailors and officers.
The USS Constitution was restored several times in the early 20th century, including a massive restoration from 1927 to 1931, which saw approximately 85% of the ship completely replaced. In 1934, the ship completed a three-year, 90-port tour of the United States. It sailed under its own power for the first time in 116 years on its 200th birthday in 1997.
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The ship's centennial celebrations
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. It was launched in October 1797 as one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. The ship saw fighting in the Quasi-War with France and engagements against pirates in the Mediterranean, and later served as the flagship of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Squadron.
In 1873, the USS Constitution underwent an overhaul in preparation for the United States' centennial celebrations in 1876. The Navy decided to end the ship's service as a school ship and put it on display for the centennial. The centennial reconstruction included installing a coal bin and a small boiler for heat, as well as removing the Andrew Jackson figurehead, which was given to the Naval Academy Museum. Despite these repairs, the ship was not ready in time for the centennial celebrations, and she was instead used to transport artwork and industrial displays to the Paris Exposition of 1878.
In 1897, the ship returned to Boston amid citywide jubilations, including parades, orations, musicals, and nighttime illuminations that celebrated Old Ironsides' enduring legacy. In 1905, the Navy planned to scuttle the ship, but it was saved from this fate by Armenian immigrant Moses Gulesian, who offered to buy the ship. His offer sparked a public campaign to preserve the ship, and Congress appropriated funds for repairs.
Today, the USS Constitution remains a celebrated relic of American history and is maintained by the United States Navy. It continues to inspire and serve as a reminder of the nation's maritime heritage.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the USS Constitution was not decommissioned during the Civil War. It served as a training ship for the US Naval Academy during the war.
The USS Constitution was decommissioned in 1881 or 1882 after retiring from active duty.
The USS Constitution was moved to the Portsmouth Navy Yard in 1857 for conversion into a training ship.
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