“Old Ironsides”, as she is known, was built around the time of the signing of the United States Constitution and thus her name-U.S.S. Constitution. The three masted frigate is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat and is maintained as a national monument at the Charleston Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts. In the War of 1812, she defeated three British warships over a six-month period. Constitution recently completed a four-year overhaul to restore the ship to original hull strength. Today she tours throughout the US as Tall ship lovers travel to view and photographer.

Affectionately known as "old ironsides", the USS Constitution is one of the most important pieces of US Naval History. She was instrumental in the defeat of the British in 1812 about 600 miles off the coast of Boston, MA. She has been reconstructed to perfection by talented craftsmen and today tours the nation. Proud recipient of the Institute of Museum and Library Services 2003 National Museum Service Award First Lady Laura Bush presented the awards at a special ceremony at the White House, on January 22, 2004.

Made of timbers felled from Maine to Georgia and armed with cannons cast in Rhode Island and copper fastenings provided by Paul Revere, the U.S.S. Constitution is truly a national ship. Launched in Boston on October 21, 1797, she first put to sea in 1798. Having remained a part of the U.S. Navy since that day, Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship in the world which is still afloat.
Her first mission, during the late 1790's, was to guard American commerce in the Caribbean against French depredations. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson sent her to the Mediterranean to protect American ships and seamen from attack by the Barbary pirates. With Captain Edward Preble in command, Constitution and other ships of the squadron bombarded Tripoli. Thanks to such determination, a treaty of peace was signed in June 1805 between the United States and Tripoli aboard Constitution.
After returning to the United States, Constitution was named flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron. In 1810, her new captain, Isaac Hull, took her to sea. Two years later she met and defeated HMS Guerriere, the first in a grand succession of victories in the War of 1812. It was during this ferocious battle that the seamen, astonished at how the British cannonballs were bouncing off the Constitution's hull, cried out - "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!" Hence, her nickname,"Old Ironsides."
When her war service ended in 1815, the battle -scarred Constitution was laid up for almost six years for extensive repairs, after which she went on two cruises to the Mediterranean. In 1830 she was reported unseaworthy and condemned to be broken up. A poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., entitled "Old Ironsides," aroused such popular feeling that money was appropriated for rebuilding her in 1833. In 1844, under the command of Captain "Mad Jack" Percival, she began an epic around-the-world cruise and became the first American warship to circumnavigate the globe.
During the Civil War she was brought to Newport, Rhode Island to serve as a training ship for Naval Academy midshipmen.
In 1882, she was removed from active service and shortly thereafter retired to Portsmouth, New Hampshire Naval Shipyard. In recognition of her centennial, Constitution was brought back to Boston in 1897. Refitted for display and opened to the public in 1905, she became a national monument.
Constitution was recommissioned in 1931 for a coast-to-coast tour of ninety American cities lasting until 1934 when she was returned to her place of honor in the Boston Harbor at Charlestown Navy Yard. She rests here today as an enduring symbol of the document for which she is named and of America's determination to defend the republic she so long protected.

USS Constitution was one of six frigates authorized for construction by an act of Congress in 1794. Joshua Humphreys designed them to be the Navy’s capital ships. Larger and more heavily armed than the standard run of frigate, Constitution and her sisters were formidable opponents even for some ships of the line.
Built in Boston of resilient live oak, Constitution’s planks were up to seven inches thick. Paul Revere forged the copper spikes and bolts that held the planks in place and the copper sheathing that protected the hull. Thus armed, she first put to sea in July 1798 and saw her first service patrolling the southeast coast of the United States during the Quasi-War with France.
In 1803 she was designated flagship for the Mediterranean squadron under Captain Edward Preble and went to serve against the Barbary States of North Africa, which were demanding tribute from the United States in exchange for allowing American merchant vessels access to Mediterranean ports.
Preble began an aggressive campaign against Tripoli, blockading ports and bombarding fortifications. Finally Tripoli, Tunisia and Algeria agreed to a peace treaty.
Constitution patrolled the North African coast for two years after the war ended, to enforce the terms of the treaty.
She returned to Boston in 1807 for two years of refitting. The ship was recommissioned as flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron in 1809 under Commodore John Rodgers.
By early 1812, relations with Great Britain had deteriorated and the Navy began preparing for war, which was declared June 20. Captain Isaac Hull, who had been appointed Constitution’s commanding officer in 1810, put to sea July 12, without orders, to prevent being blockaded in port. His intention was to join the five ships of Rodgers’ squadron.
 Constitution sighted five ships off Egg Harbor, N.J., July 17. By the following morning the lookouts had determined they were a British squadron that had sighted Constitution and were giving chase. Finding themselves becalmed, Hull and his seasoned crew put boats over the side to tow their ship out of range. By using kedge anchors to draw the ship forward, and wetting the sails down to take advantage of every breath of wind, Hull slowly made headway against the pursuing British. After two days and nights of toil in the relentless July heat, Constitution finally eluded her pursuers.
But one month later, she met with one of them again — the frigate Guerriere. The British ship fired the first shot of the legendary battle; 20 minutes later, Guerriere was a dismasted hulk, so badly damaged that she was not worth towing to port. Hull had used his heavier broadsides and his ship’s superior sailing ability, while the British, to their astonishment, saw that their shot seemed to rebound harmlessly off Constitution’s hull — giving her the nickname 'Old Ironsides'.
Under the command of William Bainbridge, 'Old Ironsides', met Java, another British frigate, in December. Their three-hour engagement left Java unfit for repair, so she was burned. Constitution’s victories gave the American people a tremendous boost to morale, and raised the United States to the rank of a world-class naval power.
Despite having to spend many months in port, either under repair or because of blockades, Constitution managed eight more captures, including a British frigate and sloop sailing in company which she fought simultaneously, before peace was declared in 1815. After six years of extensive repairs, she returned to duty as flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron. She sailed back to Boston in 1828.
An examination in 1830 found her unfit for sea, but the American public expressed great indignation at the recommendation that she be scrapped, especially after publication of Oliver Wendell Holmes’ poem 'Old Ironsides'. Congress passed an appropriation for reconstruction and in 1835 she was placed back in commission. She served as flagship in the Mediterranean and the South Pacific and made a 30-month voyage around the world beginning in March 1844.
In the 1850s she patrolled the African coast in search of slavers, and during the Civil War served as a training ship for midshipmen.
After another period of rebuilding in 1871, she transported goods for the Paris Exposition of 1877 and served once more as a training ship. Decommissioned in 1882, she was used as a receiving ship at Portsmouth, N.H. She returned to Boston to celebrate her centennial in 1897.
In 1905, public sentiment saved her once more from scrapping; in 1925 she was restored, through the donations of school children and patriotic groups. Recommissioned in 1931, she set out under tow for a tour of 90 port cities along the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts of the United States.
More than 4,600,000 people visited her during the three-year journey. Having secured her position as an American icon, she returned to her home port of Boston. In 1941, she was placed in permanent commission, and an act of Congress in 1954 made the Secretary of the Navy responsible for her upkeep.
Now the oldest U.S. warship still in commission, Constitution remains a powerful reminder of the nation’s earliest steps into dominance of the sea.
Timeline
Oct. 21, 1797
USS Constitution launched and christened at Edmond Hartt’s Shipyard, Boston.
Aug. 1798
Ordered into action in the Quasi-War with France.
1803–1806
Flagship, Mediterranean Squadron, Tripolitan War.
1812–1815
War with Great Britain.
Aug. 18, 1812
Defeats 49-gun British frigate Guerriere. Crew bestows her with 'Old Ironsides' nickname.
Dec. 29, 1812
Captures British frigate Java and five smaller vessels.
1828-1830
Laid up at Boston and condemned by naval commissioners, she was saved by a poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes.
March 1844
Begins 30-month voyage around the world.
1931-1934
National cruise takes 'Old Ironsides' to 90 American cities, returns to her place of honor in Boston harbor.
March 1996-1997
Completes 44-month restoration. Crew prepares for historic sail in July 1997, and 'Old Ironsides' turns 200 Oct. 21, 1997.