Preservation Philosophies SHIP OF THESEUS Readers may be familiar with the thought experiment known as the “Ship of Theseus.” It is a philosophical conundrum from antiquity and first appeared in Plutarch’s Life of Theseus: The ship wherein Theseus and the youth of Athens returned had thirty oars, and was preserved by the Athenians…they took away the oldRead more
USS Constitution is living history, captured in drawings, paintings, and photographs. The legacy of “Old Ironsides’” victories and the men of iron who served aboard her are chronicled in countless annals. Over the course of Constitution’s 221 years, through wartime and peace, many have lyricized her glory; from broadsides celebrating her War of 1812 victoriesRead more
Buy Tickets >> $25 for members / $30 for non-members Not a member? Join today by calling 617-426-1812 ext 108. Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres as master modeler Rob Napier shares his insight into the intricate and exquisite art of model ships – then you be the judge! Drawing on his experience as both competitionRead more
Join USS Constitution‘s Commanding Officer and Crew on February 20, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. on the decks of “Old Ironsides” to commemorate the 203rd anniversary of the battle with HMS Cyane and HMS Levant. The world of the museum curator or historian is akin to that of a detective’s world. Just like detectives, curators andRead more
Share your thoughts at our next open house opportunity: Thursday, January 18, 2018 | 3:30-6:30 PM Kennedy Community Resource Center, 55 Bunker Hill Street The Boston National Historical Park and USS Constitution Museum are imagining what the visitor experience in the Charlestown Navy Yard could be: What kind of events and activities would you likeRead more
Happy New Year! Since the beginning months of USS Constitution‘s 2015-2017 dry docking and restoration project, we have taken the time at the turn of each new year to review the past year’s work and to look ahead to coming projects. 2017 was momentous in the ship’s restoration as it saw the final days of “Old Ironsides” in theRead more
What a busy time the past six months have been for USS Constitution! As readers of “Restoring an Icon” know, the ship’s 26 months in dry dock came to an end in a dramatically lit, late-night refloating on July 23, 2017. Constitution‘s summer at Pier One in the Charlestown Navy Yard included the reinstallation of theRead more
Join us Friday, November 10, 2017 at 8:00 am for Morning Colors in front of “Old Ironsides” on Pier 1, followed by breakfast at the USS Constitution Museum. Guest Speaker James Wright James Wright is President Emeritus and Eleazar Wheelock Professor of History Emeritus at Dartmouth College. He joined the Marine CorpsRead more
USS Constitution will be getting underway for her first turnaround demonstration since October 2014 from Charlestown Navy Yard on Friday, October 20 at 10:00 a.m. in commemoration of the Navy and Constitution’s Birthday. The ship will be travelling to Fort Independence on Castle Island where she will be firing a 21-gun salute at approximatelyRead more
Two hundred and two years ago, the Washington, D.C. newspaper the National Intelligencer called for the preservation of USS Constitution, “Old Ironsides”: “Let us keep ‘Old Ironsides’ at home. She has…become a Nation’s ship, and should be preserved… [National Intelligencer, May 23, 1815] Since Constitution‘s 100th anniversary in 1897, with few exceptions, the United StatesRead more
USS CONSTITUTION MUSEUM | Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22, Charlestown, MA 02129 | 6174261812
