The Museum preserves and shares the stories of "Old Ironsides" and those who shaped her history with exhibits and programs for all ages.
The USS Constitution Museum preserves and shares the stories of "Old Ironsides" and those who shaped her history with exhibits and programs for all ages. The USS Constitution Museum and the USS Constitution (the Ship) are operated by different organizations. See the Ship's website (http://www.navy.mil/local/constitution/) for the most up-to-date information about the Ship's public visitation hours.
Operating as usual
This National we honor the brave men and women who went above and beyond the call of duty to serve our nation. Learn about the four recipients that received this military decoration while serving aboard “Old Ironsides.” bit.ly/3eTKXWD
U.S. Navy Medal of Honor Photo Credit: U.S. Navy, Oscar Sosa
There's been some *unusual* activity at the Ship this week.... if you're here you'll notice a very large crane. We're re-sharing this video from USS Constitution as they started down-rigging Old Ironsides to remove the 10,000-pound main fighting top so it can be replaced! We'll follow the story this Summer and Fall and can't wait to see the progress.
Hey Scouts, we have an exciting event just for you! Come and join us for Scout Day at the USS Constitution Museum on Sunday, April 2nd. You'll get to participate in various activities and learn about the Navy today as well as life at sea in 1812! Plus, you can earn scout rank advancement badges. Learn more & register now at usscm.org/events/scout-day/
We have a winner! Congrats to the Utz Kettle Classic Maui BBQ -- our pick for "America's Chip of State." 🥔 🏆 🎉 Utz pulled away the victory in the final four showdown earlier this afternoon in a submission by our staff member Denise! 👏 Until next year.... Happy
There's some stiff competition for the title of America's Chip of State... we take our snacks seriously here and the regional favs are in the lineup. We still have one more round then it's final four showdown at noon! What's your favorite chip?
In 1996, Lieutenant Commander Claire V. Bloom became the first woman to serve as Executive Officer of USS Constitution. She also became the first woman to don an officer’s 1812-style uniform in the modern U.S. Navy. USS Constitution’s sailors wear custom-made uniforms to commemorate the War of 1812. Learn more about : http://bit.ly/3kzrv6U
Photo credit of portrait: Courtesy of U.S. Navy
Closing out the day with a last tribute for . Did you know there were multiple Rosies? Norman Rockwell's likeness of Rosie also paved the way for "Wendy the Welder" and many other iterations over the years. Today, whatever her name, we remember the five million civilian women across the U.S. who went to work in factories across many industries during WW2 to support the American effort. 🇺🇸
All the Rosies of today send thanks to the Rosies of yesterday. 💪
In this photo, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Apphia Gomes, 336th Air Refueling Squadron, refuels a C-17 Globemaster III aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker near March Air Reserve Base, Dec. 18, 2017. The C-17 carried Elinor Otto, better known as Rosie the Riveter, on her first C-17 flight.
(U.S. Air Force Photo by Master Sgt. Eric Harris / Released)
We'd like to acknowledge ALL the winning ships from the USS Constitution Museum LEGO® Ship Shape Competition during the 2023 LEGO® Maritime Festival. Follow the link below to see all the titles and photos of all the amazing, winning ships. 👏 🎉 ⚓
Pictured here are four winning entries:
T-Rex Ship, Arthur, 5
USS Swift, Luke, 11
Under Sea Adventure, Mireya 8, Dan 35
The Black Widow, Luke, 11
Everyone did a tremendous job! 🚢 Check out all the winners: https://bit.ly/3yZKY4t
Cue the drumroll please...🥁 The 2023 Grand Prize Winner of the USS Constitution Museum LEGO® Ship Shape Competition AT-HOME Build is.... Three Seas Cargo Ship!
Congrats to the creative builders Carter, age 7; Camden, age 9; and Christine, age 37. Our judges find the water action exciting and the top deck fun to check out! Great Job! 👏 👏 👏
See it for yourself.....
We'll be posting more of the winners from our LEGO® Maritime Festival this afternoon! All the entries are amazing and creative. Stay tuned....
Congrats to the builder of the ship King Moose, our LEGO® Maritime Festival GRAND PRIZE WINNER for the in-person build. 👏 🎉
To the winner: we need your contact information! If this is your ship, please contact us to claim your prize!"
And in the meantime, we can continue to appreciate the clever design of King Moose....
Go at USS Constitution's repair shop with Builder 1st Class Hilary Lemelin. She's part of the team of U.S. Navy builders who craft beautiful and distinctive signs, awards, and even a replica ship’s wheel for the Pentagon, using hand tools and materials removed from “Old Ironsides” during restorations. https://youtu.be/I2CiJVi8G8s
We think of her as our own --
Builder 1st Class Hilary Lemelin, assigned to USS Constitution, takes us behind the scenes of USS Constitution's woodworking repair shop in the Charlestown N...
The history of Old Ironsides has long been told in poems and songs by famous authors and sailors alike. See some of our timeless favorites, from the Museum Collection.
USS Constitution is living history, captured in drawings, paintings, and photographs. The legacy of “Old Ironsides’” and its sailors are chronicled in countless annals. Over. . .
Are you a Scout? Join us for USS Constitution Museum's Scout Day–a special day of activities just for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts on Sunday, April 2. You'll learn about life at sea in 1812 and life in the Navy today, all while meeting requirements for scout rank advancement badges. Register today: usscm.org/events/scout-day/
Hey, ! Nothing warms the tum-tum like a hot bowl of MRE. C'mon you know you want to try it... We're stocked and ready for the mad rush! 🍽️ 🆘 🏕️
Available now in our Museum Store in Charlestown, open daily during Museum hours.
Irish-born sailors and immigrants played a significant role on the USS Constitution during the War of 1812. Learn more about the seamen and crew who hailed from Ireland, including the story of George Campbell Read (pictured) who served three times on Constitution and eventually became Commander of the bomb ketch Vesuvius, and commandant of the Navy Yard. ⚓ 🍀 🇮🇪 http://bit.ly/401Hb1S
We are honored to be selected by The Bob Woodruff Foundation as a event contest winner! Their grant will give us the chance to create a July 4th block party to honor our military community. We can't wait to get to work to create a day to remember for the community. Huzzah!
Winter storms and a museum closure didn't stop us from celebrations. It's still happening in our Museum office today! We're rebranding it as the "Pie-des of March."
Women weren't allowed to be sailors during the War of 1812. But, reports indicate that women were part of the clash between USS Constitution & HMS Guerriere, “engaged in passing powder, and other munitions of war!” Who were these Women Making Waves and how did they get swept up in the action? Our historian and curation team tells the story: http://bit.ly/3SzhXFw
📷 Constitution & Guerriere, by George Ropes, Jr., 1813. Detail of Constitution’s Marines on the fore and main fighting tops firing down upon Guerriere‘s spar deck. [USS Constitution Museum Collection, 2094.2]
It's another wintery moment in Boston! We will delay opening until noon tomorrow, Wednesday, March 15th. Until then, enjoy this beautiful pic of the ship during a storm in 2020 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Grant G. Grady, courtesy of U.S. Navy. Stay safe, be warm, be well, and see you tomorrow afternoon! ❄️ 🌨️ ☃️
It's not exactly Pi or Pie, but it is related to food and math (two of our favorite subjects!). USS Constitution‘s cook had to do a lot of math to feed 480 hungry men. Here are some fun and easy Constitution-based recipes, especially for a .
Put your math skills to test by scaling the serving sizes found in the recipes for Ship’s Biscuit, Sailors Duff, and Hot Chocolate to serve meals for 480 people! If one serving size equals enough for one sailor, how much of each ingredient will you need to make enough food for everyone aboard Constitution in 1812? Happy
Get the recipes: http://bit.ly/42cWWoE
We may have "sprung forward," but winter is sticking around! Due to winter weather advisories, the Museum will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, March 14th. Stay warm. Stay safe!
Existentialism in the Navy Yard? 🤔 Got a question about Old Ironsides for our historian or curation team? Let us know! What do you want to know about USS Constitution, maritime or naval history?
USS Constitution crew member Richard Fletcher Dunn was struck in the leg with British grapeshot during the War of 1812 battle with HMS Guerriere. He lost his leg in the aftermath... learn about the hasty surgical procedure and his wooden leg, from our Museum Collection (1-min video - TRIGGER WARNING for the description of amputation).
During the War of 1812 battle with HMS Guerriere, USS Constitution crew member Richard Fletcher Dunn was struck in the leg with British grapeshot. His leg wa...
We're celebrating ! 🎉 It’s the perfect way for a girl to gain confidence, make friends, and learn new skills—not to mention have a ton of fun along the way. 💚 💚
Are you a Girl Scout? Join us for Scout Day at USS Constitution on April 2 at the Museum. Learn more: http://bit.ly/3Zp3YVr
If you live in the U.S. and in most markets... it's that time of year! Don't forget to Spring Forward tomorrow! 🕐 One less hour of rest 💤 means more time to visit us for a great day in the Navy Yard! And if you lived nearby, the Ship's cannon could be your early morning wake-up call! ⏰
📷 courtesy of U.S. Navy
Can you hear me now? 📞 📡 📵 Before the smartphone was the speaking or hailing trumpet. It provided ships with a way to communicate -- onboard and also with other ships! Learn more about the speaking trumpet, from our collection [2 min read and video] http://bit.ly/424klbw
What's outside your window? We're grateful to see the sun shining on Old Ironsides across the Yard and flags at Dry Dock #1. ⚓
Please help us get nominated as a Boston Family Favorite!
Our museum has focused on hands-on activities for families as a means to engage kids in learning through the stories of Old Ironsides. From a LEGO® Shipyard to a mast where they can learn to unfurl a sail... won't you please help nominate us?
We're eligible in two categories - "Museums & Attractions" and "Historic Sites and Tours!" The most nominations before April 5th move on to the next round....
http://bit.ly/3YVCMgB
Do you own a business? Register Now For Your Free “Vote for Us” Badge Customized with your business name [click here] Best of Family Favorites! About Boston Parents’ Family Favorites Boston Parents’ Family Favorites was born with the idea to give readers in Greater Boston and throughout the ...
Before there were selfies, people had to sit for days and weeks for painted portraits. 😬 Enter the daguerreotype. 👏 The first stable type of photograph, invented in 1839, forever changed how we see and visually represent ourselves. In this video, take a closer look at the daguerreotype of Susan Bainbridge, wife of William Bainbridge, Commander of USS Constitution and eventual Commodore of the U.S. Navy in 1812.
📹 This video has been made possible by a Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan () grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The invention of photography forever changed how we see and visually represent ourselves. In this video, take a closer look at Susan Bainbridge’s daguerreoty...
This Sunday is Sensory Friendly Sunday. Visit the Museum in a quieter setting, without loud sounds or flashing lights, and before we open to the public at 10:00 AM. All the fun, with less stimulus. Register in advance by following the link below.
Join us for a sensory-friendly morning at the USS Constitution Museum! Learn about the incredible history of America’s Ship of State in a quieter setting, without loud sounds or flashing lights, and before we open to the public at 10:00 AM. Design a ship, furl a sail, and scrub the decks in our ha...
We have a winner! 🏆 The vote is in: Michael Swanson's "Vasa" won the 43rd Annual USS Constitution's Model Shipwright show, "Masters of Miniature."
Michael is a Massachusetts-based civil engineer who entered a Viking long ship and HMS Bounty of Captain Blighe fame. But it was his his intricate and detailed model of Vasa, an innovative Swedish warship that captured the win! Vasa was launched to disastrous results, capsizing in 1628 after only minutes in the water. After being raised, she is now a stunning focus of Vasamuseet / The Vasa Museum.
Congratulations to Michael!
📸 : Henry Rodrigues
It's ! Take a listen to a conversation with the first female Commanding Officer of USS Constitution, CDR BJ Farrell, and our Museum President Anne Grimes Rand. She talks about her choice to take on the role and her desire to shine a light on the historic ship across the country. Watch the video: http://bit.ly/3J1JVH0
📸 Courtesy of U.S. Navy
📢 Check out our latest blog post, which is an exciting tale that connects USS Constitution to the dissolution of President Andrew Jackson's cabinet! It's a story filled with intrigue, power struggles, social scandal, and the unraveling of an entire administration. Head over to our blog now to see how it all unfolds. 📖
https://bit.ly/3mexaQo
📣 Calling all Scouts! Join us for USS Constitution Museum's Scout Day–a special day of activities just for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts on Sunday, April 2. You'll learn about life at sea in 1812 and life in the Navy today, all while meeting requirements for scout rank advancement badges. Register today: usscm.org/events/scout-day/
If you're looking for some fun on this wintery morning, we've got just the thing! 🎮🕹️Get ready to set sail with A Sailor's Life for Me! mini-games. 🌊⚓️🐙
Take control of the ship and steer to safety....or if you're feeling competitive, race to the cannons and fire away! Our fav: try your luck with the soon-to-be-a-classic Rats in the Hold. 🐀👀
Get in the game: http://bit.ly/3ZmYN8k
Winter is making a comeback! The Museum will delay opening tomorrow, Saturday, March 4, until noon. Stay safe, everyone. ❄️ ⛄
Now, that's a sword! Or, actually, a cutlass. From our collection: the USS Adams Cutlass c.1799. This cutlass was part of the privately funded USS Adams, equipped with 80-100 specially made cutlasses. Each was engraved with "Ship Adams" on the counterguard and "USA" on the branch guard. Although it's unclear who made this sword, the stars and moon on the blade suggest it was made in Solingen, Germany. The branch guard has been restored based on the only other known example. It's a rare find and a fascinating piece of history!
Today's poem about USS Constitution and the freedom to read, brought to you by AI. Yes, there's an irony there. Let's all go read something great! 📚
It's and we couldn't be more excited to celebrate the love of reading nationwide, especially among our little ones! The pic is a flashback to summer when our Visitor Experience manager Chris read a book at the Museum to the kids from the Charlestown Library. We want to encourage everyone to join in on the fun and get lost in the wonderful world of reading. Let's ignite a passion for books and watch as our minds and hearts soar to new heights! 📚
Thank you, Boston Public Library for the opportunity!
22 1st Avenue
Boston, MA
02129
10 minute walk from North Station On the MBTA Water Shuttle and Bus Route #93 Near Sullivan Square station
| Monday | 10am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 10am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 10am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 10am - 5pm |
| Friday | 10am - 5pm |
| Saturday | 10am - 5pm |
| Sunday | 10am - 5pm |
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What was the War of 1812 all about anyway? In this video, learn about America's second war for independence from 1812 to 1815.
In this video, Public Historian Carl Herzog shares views from St. Simons Island, Georgia, where live oak timbers were harvested in the 1790s for use in the construction of USS Constitution.
Public Historian Carl Herzog recently sat down with Martha S. Jones, distinguished scholar, author, and professor of history at Johns Hopkins University, to discuss the story of George Hackett, a USS Constitution sailor who went on to become an activist pursuing rights of citizenship for free African Americans in Maryland in the mid-1800s.
🎶 This broadside poem, sung to the popular tune of "Yankee Doodle," captures the pride and excitement that followed USS Constitution’s victory over HMS Guerriere in 1812. Take a listen!
In honor of #Juneteenth, Public Historian Carl Herzog welcomed distinguished scholars Justene Hill Edwards, Associate Professor in the Corcoran Department of History at the University of Virginia, and Ryan Quintana, Associate Professor of History at Wellesley College, for a fascinating conversation on the entwined history of slavery and the harvesting of live oak timbers for USS Constitution.
📣 Prior to electronic loudspeakers and two-way radios, captains and officers aboard naval warships in the 1800s used speaking trumpets, also called hailing trumpets, to communicate effectively at sea. Learn more in this video!
🛠 Builder 1st Class Hilary Lemelin takes us behind the scenes of USS Constitution's woodworking repair shop in the Charlestown Navy Yard. In this repair shop, U.S. Navy builders craft handmade souvenirs, signs, awards, and even a replica ship's wheel for the Pentagon, using materials removed from "Old Ironsides" during restorations.
😴 It's #NationalNappingDay! Imagine trying to snooze in a hammock on USS Constitution's berth deck amid shouted orders, the pounding of feet, and your crewmates snoring nearby. Learn about hammocks aboard ship in this video!
Huzzah, her sides are made of LEGO! 😉 The LEGO Maritime Festival is in full swing at the Museum and online. Don't forget to enter your creation into the Ship Shape Competition by February 27! Learn more on the Museum's website: bit.ly/3rSSE5x
During 19th century sea battles, Marines armed with muskets and howitzers took up station in each of the three fighting tops. Learn more about Marines and their weapons in this artifact video!
Rosemarie Wilamowski (formerly YN2 Lanam), the very first woman assigned to USS Constitution, congratulates Commander BJ Farrell on her orders! 👏
Retired Lieutenant Commander Claire Bloom, the first (and so far only) female officer to be second in command of USS Constitution, welcomes Commander BJ Farrell aboard America's Ship of State! 🙌
Governor Andy Beshear shared his best wishes and Kentucky pride with CDR Farrell as she becomes the first female commanding officer of USS Constitution. 👏
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker congratulated CDR John Benda and CDR BJ Farrell ahead of USS Constitution's historic change of command ceremony. 🎉 Mass.gov
CDR Billie June (BJ) Farrell, USS Constitution's first female commanding officer, sat down for an interview with USS Constitution Museum President & CEO Anne Grimes Rand to discuss her career in the U.S. Navy.
Well wishes have been pouring in for CDR Benda and CDR Farrell ahead of Friday's change of command ceremony, including from another one of Boston's historic leaders, Mayor Michelle Wu 吳弭! Hear her messages to the COs in this video. 🎉
What is it like to be commanding officer of America's Ship of State? CDR John A. Benda sat down for an interview with USS Constitution Museum President & CEO Anne Grimes Rand to reflect on his time as 76th Commanding Officer of USS Constitution.
⚓ Meet today's crew! Our new exhibit, "Hear My Story: Today's Crew of USS Constitution," is now open. Visit now to learn from the sailors, in candid video interviews and vibrant photographs, what it is like to serve aboard USS Constitution.
Builder 1st Class Hilary Lemelin, assigned to USS Constitution, sat down with USS Constitution Museum Public Historian Carl Herzog to discuss what it was like building two desks for the Vice President of the United States and the Secretary of the Navy. The desks were built using materials from USS Constitution and other historic U.S. Navy ships.🛠
✍️ Letter writing was an essential form of communication in the 19th century, and wax seals were a way to authenticate correspondence and ensure that letters remained unopened and unread in transit. Captain Isaac Hull owned a gold fob that enclosed his personal seal: an image of USS Constitution above the inscription “I. Hull” carved in carnelian, a hard precious stone.
✉️ A short, handwritten letter from 1812 is a poignant firsthand account of one officer’s bravery and sacrifice during USS Constitution‘s battle with HMS Guerriere. The letter, from Marine Lieutenant John Contee to Lewis Bush, recounts the death of Lewis’ brother, LT William Sharp Bush, on August 19, 1812. LT Bush was the first United States Marine Corps officer to be killed in combat.
Naval surgeons in the early 19th century, responsible for tending to sick and injured sailors while at sea, carried kits with them filled with the best surgical tools of the era. In this video, learn more about naval surgeons and their tool kits, and then hear from a modern hospital corpsman serving on USS Constitution.
Imagine going to sea for two years and everything you needed had to fit in a single sea bag. In this video, learn about navy sea bags, including one owned by Thomas Chew, a purser aboard USS Constitution in the War of 1812. Then check out our online exhibit ⭐️Join the Crew⭐️ to learn more about the lives of sailors in 1812 ▶️ jointhecrew.ussconstitutionmuseum.org/
The responsibilities of today's U.S. Navy sailors aboard USS Constitution are a lot different from what they were back in the 19th century. Find out more in this video, then check out our online exhibit ⭐️Join the Crew⭐️ to learn more about sailors then and now ▶️ jointhecrew.ussconstitutionmuseum.org/
Hip, hip, huzza! The Museum and Ship are open to visit today. Join us this #LaborDay for some sailor fun: bit.ly/3jpYzL8 ⚓
😴 The 450 sailors aboard USS Constitution in the early 1800s slept in shifts on the berth deck, but the tight space belowdecks and constant rolling movement of the ship made the use of hammocks preferable to fixed bunks. Learn more about hammocks aboard ship in this video!
At the USS Constitution Museum we are dedicated to engaging all ages in the story of “Old Ironsides” to spark excitement about maritime heritage, naval service, and the American experience. We ensure that the stories of USS Constitution and those who shaped her history are never forgotten, always remain relevant, and inspire as many people as possible. We provide an environment where inter-generational groups seeking an enjoyable and educational experience can have fun while learning and exploring history together. Located in the historic Charlestown Navy Yard, the USS Constitution Museum is a proud partner the National Parks of Boston, Naval History & Heritage Command, and USS Constitution.
For more information, visit us at usscm.org.
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