USS Constitution, Historic naval frigate museum in Charlestown, Boston, US
The USS Constitution is a three-masted wooden warship permanently moored at Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston. Rows of cast-iron cannons line the open deck, while below the planks visitors find narrow sleeping berths, ammunition storage rooms, and cramped passageways that require ducking through low doorways.
Built in 1797 as one of the first six frigates of the American navy, the ship earned its nickname after British cannonballs bounced off its hull during battles in the War of 1812. It later served as a training vessel for decades following the Civil War before undergoing restoration in the 1920s.
Uniformed sailors guide visitors through the lower decks and demonstrate how crews lived and worked during long voyages at sea. Families often gather around the cannons while children try their hand at tying knots and learning basic nautical skills at interactive stations throughout the ship.
Access to the ship requires climbing steep wooden stairs, and the below-deck passageways are not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. The adjacent museum offers accessible exhibits and provides a good alternative if navigating the tight quarters aboard proves difficult.
The ship sails into Boston Harbor once a year to fire its cannons and turn around, ensuring both sides of the hull weather evenly over time. This tradition draws thousands of spectators to the waterfront and has continued for decades without interruption.
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