The USS Constitution is a floating history of the fight against the Barbary Pirates, the War of 1812, and an era of naval history. Boston's Freedom Trail winds its way through historic sites of Boston and across the Charles River to Charlestown, adding the USS Constitution and the Bunker Hill Monument. Tourists, history buffs, and naval enthusiasts flock to the ship.
Is it a good place for a geek to bring his geeklets?
If my experience is at all representative, the answer is a resounding yes. There is plenty of good stuff for us to enjoy. Add in a visit to the World War II destroyer USS Cassin Young and you will include lots of lessons about technology for your geeklets in addition to the history of the ships.
Both ships are impressive examples of the technology and naval power of their eras. It's a straightforward comparison of technology when you walk across the dock between the two ships. The oak of "Ironsides" versus the steel armor of the destroyer. Cannons versus torpedos. Sail power versus diesel engines.
Make sure to bring the kids to the USS Constitution Museum next door in the Charlestown Navy Yard. The museum has great exhibits on the technology used at the time. The second floor is focused on kids and takes them through the life of sailor in the early part of the 1800s. The whole museum is very kid friendly.
On many weekends there will be period actors organized in the Charlestown Navy Yard to add more color to the experience of a seaman during the War of 1812. That includes a large group of privateers. Some might call them legal pirates on the high seas. (They didn't like being compared to pirates.) My six-year old son was enchanted by their stories of adventure on the high seas.
President George Washington gave the USS Constitution her name when she was launched in 1797. She is the world's oldest floating commissioned naval vessel. No surprise that she is one of the 1,000 Great Places in Massachusetts.
The USS Constitution is not the oldest commissioned naval vessel. The HMS Victory is a first rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched in 1765. She is the oldest naval ship still in commission, but sits in dry dock in Portsmouth as a museum ship and is not "floating."
The Constitution has been in the water, but had not been under sail since 1881. Nobody was sure she could still withstand the stress on her old timbers. Nobody wanted to risk snapping her in half and being the captain that sank her in Boston Harbor. In 1991 Commander David Cashman proposed that the Constitution should sail under her own power to celebrate her 200th anniversary. On July 20, 1997, Old Ironsides set sail for the first time in 116 years. As you can see in the picture, she is very impressive when under sail.
A few things to keep in mind. USSConstitution is currently in a major three-year restoration process as she prepares for the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. There was some significant work being done on board and big sections were roped off, denying access. Access to the ship is subject to federal security, so be prepared to have the family pass through a metal detector before boarding.
