Historic day for the USS Constitution

The USS Constitution passed the Boston skyline as it is tugged back through Boston Harbor on Aug. 19. The USS Constitution set sail under her own power in Boston Harbor for the first time since 1997 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of her victory over HMS Guerriere during the War of 1812.

Military reenactors in the uniforms of U.S. Marines from the war of 1812 marched in front of the USS Constitution moments after the vessel arrived at her berth in Charlestown Navy Yard on Aug. 19.

US Navy personnel gathered sails in the rigging of the USS Constitution as the vessel arrived at her berth in Charlestown Navy Yard on Aug. 19.

The USS Constitution was escorted by a tugboat in Boston Harbor in Boston on Aug. 19.

The USS Constitution fired one of her guns in Boston Harbor as a crowd looked on from the shore in Boston on Aug. 19.

USS Constitution maintenance and repair crew member Michael Desmond, of Lynn, Mass., front, secured a line from the ship to the shore as the historic vessel was docked at her berth in Charlestown Navy Yard on Aug. 19.

An onlooker waved a colonial era flag as the USS Constitution passed through Boston Harbor on Aug. 19.

The USS Constitution set sail under her own power for the first time since 1997 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of her victory over HMS Guerriere during the War of 1812 on Aug. 19.

The USS Constitution passed the Boston skyline as it was tugged back through Boston Harbor on Aug. 19.

Reenactors from the 1812 Marine Guard stood at attention in the Charlestown Navy Yard as they commemorated the 200th anniversary of the USS Constitution’s victory over HMS Guerriere during the War of 1812 in Charlestown on Aug. 19.

A man watched the USS Constitution as she set sail on Aug. 19.

Free Men of the Sea reenactors arranged a cannon at the Charlestown Navy Yard as they commemorated the 200th anniversary of the USS Constitution’s victory over HMS Guerriere during the War of 1812 in Charlestown on Aug. 19.

Reenactors from the 1812 Marine Guard stood at attention as a bugler played in the Charlestown Navy Yard on Aug. 19.

The USS Constitution set sail for the first time since 1997 in Boston Harbor on Aug. 19.

The USS Constitution set sail for the first time since 1997 in Boston Harbor.

A crew member can be seen tending one of the sails on the USS Constitution.