The USS Constitution, proudly known as “Old Ironsides,” is a magnificent, three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy, representing an unmatched piece of American maritime and military history.
Launched in 1797, the USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world, renowned for her undefeated record in battle, particularly during the War of 1812, where she obtained her famous nickname when British cannonballs were seen harmlessly bouncing off her sturdy, three-layered oak hull. Standing today in the historic Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, her impressive size—nearly 204 feet long—and towering mast structure immediately transport visitors back to the age of sail, evoking the power and resilience of the young American republic.
Visitors walking her decks can visualize the cramped quarters and disciplined life of her crew, connect directly with the sacrifices made by early American sailors, and witness firsthand the enduring quality of a vessel that fought and survived some of the fiercest naval conflicts of her era. The ship continues to serve, maintained by the U.S. Navy, and remains a powerful, tangible symbol of the nation’s naval heritage.
