The CONSTITUTION was designed to be powerful enough to outfight any enemy warship approximately her same size, and yet fast enough to outsail a larger opponent. Built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard, in Boston, her construction team was made up of superintendent Capt. Samuel Nicholson, chief constructor, Col. George Claghorne, and naval agent Gen. Henry Jackson. Initial funded appropriation were $115,000, although her final cost was $302,700. Made from approximately 2,000 trees (with specialty woods obtained from Maine to Georgia), armed with cannons cast in Rhode Island, and fitted with copper fastenings provided by the famous Boston smith Paul Revere, the vessel is truly a "national" ship. Launched on October 21, 1797, she didn't put to sea until 1798. But, having remained part of the U.S. Navy since her launching day, the CONSTITUTION is today the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world.

1797: Oct. 21 - Although her construction is almost halted by a 1796 peace treaty with Algiers, the CONSTITUTION is launched, christened by visiting Capt. James Sever using a bottle of Madeira. It is actually the third attempt to launch her; the first was a month earlier, when the ship sticks, after moving, only 27 feet. Two days later she moves another 31 feet before sticking once again. For the third attempt, workers make the launching ways steeper, which finally enables a successful event. The public, which includes several French aristocrats, is warned beforehand that the launch of such a large ship might cause a dangerously large wave, but none actually materializes during the event.

1798: May 5 - Secretary of War William McHenry orders the CONSTITUTION made ready for sea.

The Constitution was used successfully against the Barbary pirates from 1803-1805. Tunis signed a peace treaty after five successful attacks were mounted against Tripoli.

In 1812 in the war against the British The CONSTITUTION's historic fight with HMS GUERRIERE takes place some 600 miles east of Boston on the afternoon of August 19, 1812. After an hour of inconclusive maneuvering and shooting, the two settle down to a short-range slugfest. After 20 minutes the Briton's mizzenmast falls, and a short time later both her remaining masts go overboard. At some point in the battle, someone reportedly sees a British shot bounce off the CONSTITUTION's side, and shouts, "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!" and so is born the nickname "OLD IRONSIDES." The Americans have 14 casualties, the British 79. The GUERRIERE is so badly damaged she has to be sunk after the surviving crew are brought onboard the CONSTITUTION. In recognition of this spectacular victory, incredibly motivating to a nation that had seen many military defeats in the war to date, Congress awards Capt. Isaac Hull a special gold medal, his officers medals of silver, and the crew $50,000.

The CONSTITUTION is about 30 miles off the coast of Brazil on 29 December 1812 when, at about 2 in the afternoon, she begins a fight with the faster HMS JAVA. Commodore William Bainbridge, now in command of "Old Ironsides", is wounded twice, and the ship's steering wheel is shot away, but for more than 3 hours he maneuvers masterfully and fights tenaciously until, finally, the JAVA has no masts left standing and her captain lays dying. This time there are 34 American casualties as opposed to around 130 British. Like the GUERRIERE, the JAVA is too badly damaged to bring home, but before he sinks her, Bainbridge has her wheel removed to replace the one shot away on the CONSTITUTION.

1814: January-April - Under the command of Capt. Charles Stewart, the CONSTITUTION runs the blockade of Boston. She captures H.M. Schooner Pictou as well as several small vessels during a cruise to the Windward and Leeward Islands.

1814: April - "Old Ironsides" escapes into Marblehead, MA, while being chased by two British frigates. She shortly returns to Boston for repairs. Blockaded in Boston for eight months, from April to December. Finally, taking advantage of bad weather and poor visibility in December, Captain Stewart slips past the enemy and out to sea

1815: Feb. 20 - Capt. Charles Stewart has the CONSTITUTION about 180 miles from Madeira when he encounters the British men-of-war CYANE (34 guns) and LEVANT (21 guns). This two-against-one fight begins as the sun is setting. Through superb sail handling and tactics, Stewart swiftly closes on CYANE and deals her tremendous damage to her masts and rigging. Then he blasts the LEVANT hard enough to put her out of action for awhile, during which time he closes again on the CYANE and forces her surrender. After putting a prize crew in the CYANE, he turns his attention again to the LEVANT, chasing and firing into her until she also surrenders. Stewart has 18 killed and wounded; his two opponents have around 80 casualties. He hopes to bring both captures home, but runs into a British squadron that retakes the LEVANT. The CONSTITUTION and CYANE return safely to New York on May 15 Captain Stewart had recently learned, at Puerto Rico, that the war has ended. The CYANE is purchased into the U.S. Navy and becomes the USS CYANE. For his victories, Stewart receives a gold medal from Congress, and the crew is awarded considerable prize money; "Old Ironsides" is the only ship to have all her War of 1812 captains decorated by Congress. Thus, the CONSTITUTION's wartime service ends, but she is widely recognized for having played a glorious part in our defense of freedom and our naval heritage.


Ship Schematics:

Side View

Decks from the top down

Spar Deck

Gun Deck

Birth Deck

Orlop Deck

Here is a picture of the Captain and Crew today:

The ship today.