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The USS Constitution Museum in Boston

The USS Constitution Museum on Boston's Freedom Trail is devoted to the well-known naval vessel better known as Old Ironsides. The museum celebrates the ship's history with public displays of authentic artifacts and documents, and the ship itself is docked nearby and also welcomes visitors.

Old Ironsides’ History

The USS Constitution was built in Boston in 1797 at Edmund Hartt's shipyard as one of the first six ships built for the fledgling United States Navy. By 1803, the vessel saw action as a flagship in the Barbary Wars, protecting American shipping interests in the Mediterranean through 1807. However, it is most well-known for going head to head with the British frigate HMS Guerriere in the War of 1812. The ship earned its famous nickname, “Old Ironsides,” after a hard-fought victory.

Despite its faithful service, the USS Constitution was scheduled for scrapping in 1830 when the Navy declared that the ship was no longer seaworthy. The public outcry against this move, spurred on by the famous Oliver Wendell Holmes poem, “Old Ironsides,” convinced Congress to allot money to preserve this naval treasure. The ship was repaired and remained in active service, despite a few more scrapping scares. It served a stint as a training ship, and is now a proud naval ambassador docked near the USS Constitution Museum, which shares its history with the public.

USS Constitution Museum

The USS Constitution Museum is part of the Freedom Trail of historic sites. It presents its namesake ship's history in an interactive, engaging way aimed at both adults and children. It covers the historical side of the USS Constitution's story, with visitors to the museum learning about the ship's origins and its impressive battle history. The story is brought to life with descriptions of what life on board was like for sailors in the early days.

Museum visitors also see the human side of the ship's history, like the touching story of how Boston schoolchildren gave their pennies to save it from being decommissioned and scrapped. Their tenacity and generosity saved this nautical treasure so it could be enjoyed by future generations.

Collections

The USS Constitution Museum is home to two important collections. It has a wide variety of times from the 1812 period in which Old Ironsides gained its greatest fame. You'll see authentic arms like swords, muskets, and pistol, navigational instruments and other tools used on board the ship, trophies captured in wartime. The museum's exhibits also include personal objects once owned by crew members, period clothing, artwork, and even ceramics and glassware that once graced the ship's officers' tables.

The museum also houses the Samuel Eliot Morison Memorial Library, a comprehensive collection of logs, journals, and letters from the sailors on board the ship to friends and family members back home. The journals portray an accurate and intimate picture of life on board Old Ironsides to help visitors feel a connection with this important part of history. The letters add an authentic human touch and paint an accurate portrayal of life in past centuries. You'll also see posters and advertisements relating to the ship, pay certificates and other official documents.

Visiting the Museum

The USS Constitution Museum is open daily, except certain holidays, and its hours vary seasonally. Although there is no set admission fee, the museum accepts donations.

You may luck into a special event, depending on when you visit the museum. Every spring it hosts the annual Overseers' Event, which brings together a group of dedicated individuals with the common goal of preserving Old Ironsides' story and heritage. Victory Day, celebrated annually on August 19, commemorates the victory against the HMS Guerriere. Museum visitors can participate in craft projects, sign their names in a piece of copper to be fitted onto the USS Constitution, and enjoy an ice treat.

Visits to the USS Constitution itself are separate from the museum, which operates as a separate entity. The ship has its own hours of operations and special security procedures, since it is an official, working naval vessel.

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The USS Constitution Museum in Boston