At the Charlestown Navy Yard, the USS Constitution Museum tells the story of the wooden warship known as “Old Ironsides” and the people who built and sailed it. Hands-on exhibits bring naval history to life, with activities that let you try tasks such as steering, raising sails and scrubbing a deck. The museum is separate from the ship, which is nearby and toured independently. Visit both to connect the displays with the vessel itself and see its decks and sailors’ quarters.
The museum and the ship
The USS Constitution Museum is in Building 22 at the Charlestown Navy Yard. It is a separate institution from the USS Constitution, the Navy vessel docked nearby. The museum collects and interprets the ship’s history; the ship tour gives you a chance to go aboard. Allow time for both stops if you want to connect the displays with the vessel and its layout.
The Constitution was launched in 1797 and is known as “Old Ironsides.” Its service in the War of 1812 is central to the museum’s story. The ship earned its nickname after cannon fire failed to penetrate its strong hull. It is described as the world’s oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat.
Hands-on history
Exhibits cover the ship’s construction, the people who designed and sailed it, and life in the Navy. Original artifacts, photographs, paintings, records and personal accounts help tell those stories. Interactive displays make the subject accessible to children and adults, with activities based on the work sailors did aboard ship.
You can try simulated tasks such as steering, handling sails, firing a simulated cannon and scrubbing a deck. Displays also explore sailors’ food and sleeping arrangements. The activities give families a way to engage with the history, while artifacts and written material provide more context for visitors who prefer to read and look closely.
Going aboard Old Ironsides
The ship is toured separately from the museum, with active-duty sailors serving as guides. On board, you can see the open deck and the tighter spaces below, including areas associated with sailors’ daily lives. The lower levels are accessed as part of a guided tour, and a wait can form on the main deck.
Ship access includes security screening, and adults may be asked to show photo identification. The vessel’s availability can change, so check the official USS Constitution website before setting out. Information about an underway event is also posted there; the ship’s movement through the harbor is a separate experience from a standard visit.
Häufige Fragen
Is the USS Constitution Museum the same as the ship?
No. The museum is in Building 22 at the Charlestown Navy Yard, and the ship is a nearby, separate stop.
Can you go aboard the USS Constitution?
Yes, the ship is toured separately from the museum, with active-duty sailors as guides. Access to the lower levels is part of a guided tour.
Do you need ID to visit the ship?
Adults may be asked to show photo ID. Visitors also pass through security screening.
How long should you allow for a visit?
Allow about 1 to 2 hours for the museum and ship together, with extra time if there is a wait for the lower-deck tour.
