Jonah Patel
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is the world's oldest naval warship still afloat. Built at Edmund Hartt's Shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts, and launched in 1797, the USS Constitution is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. The ship has a rich history, serving in various conflicts and undergoing numerous repairs and upgrades over the years. Today, the USS Constitution is a popular attraction, offering public turnaround cruises in Boston Harbor and serving as a classroom for midshipmen during their summer training cruises.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Edmund Hartt's Shipyard in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts |
| Year of launch | 1797 |
| Length | 204 ft (62 m) |
| Width | 43 ft 6 in (13.26 m) |
| Hull thickness | 21 inches (530 mm) |
| Hull material | Wooden |
| Hull planking | Partially replaced in 1813 and 2012 |
| Speed | 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) |
| Maintenance | Naval History and Heritage Command Detachment Boston |
| Museum | USS Constitution Museum |
| Notable crew members | Rosemarie Lanam (first female crewmember), Lieutenant Commander Claire V. Bloom (first female executive officer) |
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What You'll Learn
- The USS Constitution is located at the Charlestown Navy Yard
- The USS Constitution Museum is nearby
- The ship was built at Edmund Hartt's Shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts
- The USS Constitution is the world's oldest naval warship still afloat
- The ship is maintained, repaired, and restored by the Naval History and Heritage Command Detachment Boston
The USS Constitution is located at the Charlestown Navy Yard
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 launched in 1797 and built at Edmund Hartt's Shipyard in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts.
The USS Constitution typically makes at least one "turnaround cruise" each year, where it is towed into Boston Harbor to perform demonstrations, such as a gun drill. These cruises are open to the public through a lottery draw. The ship's maintenance, repair, and restoration are handled by the Naval History and Heritage Command Detachment Boston, which aims to maintain the ship's 1812 configuration as closely as possible.
The Charlestown Navy Yard is a significant location in the history of the USS Constitution. It has played a crucial role in the ship's restoration and maintenance, ensuring that this iconic vessel remains a floating testament to America's maritime heritage.
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The USS Constitution Museum is nearby
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. The ship was launched in 1797 and built at Edmund Hartt's Shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts.
The USS Constitution Museum is located nearby, in a restored shipyard building at the foot of Pier Two. The museum is privately run and features exhibits that showcase the history of the USS Constitution, including a research library and online games and apps. The museum is highly rated and has a track record of delighted visitors.
The museum is located in the Charlestown Navy Yard, where visitors can also explore the USS Cassin Young and Pier 1, which offers a view of Hartt's Shipyard Site. The USS Constitution typically makes a turnaround cruise each year, during which it performs underway demonstrations in Boston Harbor, including a gun drill. The ship then returns to its dock, ensuring it weathers evenly.
The "turnaround cruise" is open to the public based on a lottery draw, providing an opportunity for people to experience the ship's history and performance. The USS Constitution has a rich history, including its role in the Quasi-War with France and the First Barbary War, as well as its victories in the War of 1812. The ship has undergone extensive repairs and upgrades over the years, including the replacement of hull planking and rigging, to ensure its preservation and sailing capabilities.
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The ship 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 constructed at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts. Hartt was a master carpenter and owned the shipyard located in the North End of Boston, near the present Coast Guard base.
The USS Constitution was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and was the third to be constructed. Her keel was laid down on 1 November 1794, and her hull was built to be 21 inches thick with a length of 175 feet between perpendiculars and a total length of 204 feet. The ship required a vast amount of wood for its construction, with primary materials consisting of pine and oak. Notably, southern live oak was used, sourced from Gascoigne Bluff and milled near St. Simons Island, Georgia. Unfortunately, enslaved workers were employed to harvest the oak used in the ship's construction.
Edmund Hartt and his shipyard played a significant role in American naval history. In addition to the USS Constitution, Hartt also constructed other notable ships, including the USS Boston (1799), USS Argus (1803), and USS Independence (1814). The USS Independence, launched in 1814, was the first warship designed and built at the Boston Navy Yard. Hartt's son, Samuel, followed in his father's footsteps and became a prominent shipbuilder for the U.S. Navy, constructing the Navy's first steamship and ironclad ships.
Today, the USS Constitution is a beloved piece of history. It is maintained and restored by the Naval History and Heritage Command Detachment Boston, who work diligently to keep the ship as close as possible to its 1812 configuration. The ship typically makes at least one "turnaround cruise" each year, during which it performs underway demonstrations in Boston Harbor and offers the public a glimpse of its majestic presence.
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The USS Constitution is the world's oldest naval warship still afloat
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 naval warship still afloat, having been launched in 1797. The USS Constitution was one of six original frigates authorised for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and was the third to be constructed.
The name "Constitution" was one of ten names submitted to President George Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering. Joshua Humphreys designed the frigates to be larger and more heavily armed than the standard frigates of the period, making them the young Navy's capital ships. The USS Constitution was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts. Its hull was built 21 inches (530 mm) thick, with a length of 204 ft (62 m) and a width of 43 ft 6 in (13.26 m). In total, 60 acres (24 ha) of trees were used for its construction, primarily pine and oak.
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. Despite its age, the ship has been recorded travelling at speeds of up to 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph). The ship underwent a series of upgrades in the late 1860s, including the installation of steam pipes, radiators, and gas lighting.
Today, the USS Constitution typically makes at least one "turnaround cruise" each year, during which it performs underway demonstrations, including a gun drill. The ship's maintenance, repair, and restoration are managed by the Naval History and Heritage Command Detachment Boston, which aims to maintain the ship's 1812 configuration as closely as possible.
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The ship is maintained, repaired, and restored by the Naval History and Heritage Command Detachment Boston
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is the world's oldest naval warship still afloat. It was launched in 1797 and built at Edmund Hartt's Shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts. The USS Constitution is maintained, repaired, and restored by the Naval History and Heritage Command Detachment Boston. This group ensures that the ship remains as close as possible to its 1812 configuration.
Over the years, the USS Constitution has undergone extensive repairs and restorations. After the War of 1812, the ship was laid up in Boston and required various repairs, including new sails and copper. The ship's guns and gunner's stores were transferred to the USS Independence in 1815. Before being returned to service in the Mediterranean, the hull planking, framing, decks, beams, and interior carpentry were repaired or replaced.
In the dry dock, workers replaced a significant portion of the hull planking and recoppered the hull. Masts, rigging, and gun carriages were also replaced. The ship has a long history of being maintained by dedicated shipwrights and riggers. Even today, White Oak trees at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, Indiana, are reserved for future restoration work.
The USS Constitution typically makes at least one turnaround cruise each year, during which it performs underway demonstrations in Boston Harbor. These cruises are open to the public through a lottery draw. Despite its age, the ship recorded speeds of 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) during one of its voyages.
The ship has undergone several upgrades over the years, including the installation of steam pipes and radiators for heating. From June to August, the USS Constitution departs for its summer training cruise, after which it returns to operate as a classroom for the rest of the year.
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Frequently asked questions
USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, was built at Edmund Hartt's Shipyard in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts.
Rosemarie Lanam was the first female crew member to serve on the USS Constitution.
George Dewey commanded the USS Constitution from 1867 to 1870.
