USS Constitution

USS Constitution, berthed at the Charlestown Navy Yard at 1 Constitution Road in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world, launched in 1797. Nicknamed Old Ironsides after cannonballs bounced off her oak hull during the War of 1812, the three-masted frigate is crewed by active-duty US Navy sailors who give free guided tours on the decks. Visitors walk the gun deck lined with cannons, see the captain's cabin and the sailors' berthing spaces, and learn how the 450-person crew lived. Photo ID is required for adults, and all visitors pass through security screening before boarding. Next door, the USS Constitution Museum tells the ship's story with hands-on exhibits where children can try tasks such as hoisting sails and swinging in hammocks. The ship is free to visit, with seasonal hours generally Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm, so visitors should verify times at ussconstitutionmuseum.org. A typical visit takes one to one and a half hours. Good photo angles include the ship's bow from the pier, the rigging against the sky and the Boston skyline across the harbor. The ship is the last major stop on the Freedom Trail, and the nearby Bunker Hill Monument is a ten-minute walk. Crowds are heaviest in summer and on weekends, with lines at the security gate. Mornings on weekdays are quietest. The Navy Yard is reachable by MBTA Orange Line to Community College or by Boston Harbor ferry from Long Wharf, and the ferry ride gives a pleasant view of the skyline and the ship itself.