Field Trips
USS Constitution’s past comes to life at the USS Constitution Museum!
Bring the USS Constitution Museum and USS Constitution to your classroom, live! Our Education Team offers in-person and live virtual field trips to engage students in the history of “Old Ironsides.” Several of these programs are co-facilitated by a US Navy sailor on board USS Constitution. The USS Constitution Museum uses Zoom for virtual field trips, but staff can work with groups with other platform preferences.
Bring USS Constitution into your classroom at anytime with A Sailor’s Life, Live!, and educational video series about life at sea on board a wooden warship. Recordings of each episode, featuring a Museum educator and US Navy sailor, are available on the Museum’s website.
Self-guided groups are welcome to visit the Museum during operating hours. Admission is first-come, first-served. Reservations for self-guided visits are not required or accepted. Admission is by donation and we appreciate your generosity. The suggested donation ranges are $5-10 per child and $10-15 per adult. Groups pay upon arrival at the Museum. Cash, check, and credit cards are accepted.
Virtual Field Trips are available Mondays – Fridays from 10:00am – 5:00pm EST.
Grant funding is available for some groups: please visit the Before Your Program tab for more information.
To request a virtual or in-person program, please visit the Request a Program tab.
A Sailor’s Life for Me?
Discover if the sailor’s life is for you in this interactive program. Through virtual gallery exploration and engaging activities, students will learn about the tasks and teamwork required of early U.S. Navy sailors. Short on time but still want an engaging virtual experience? This is a great option.
This virtual field trip visits the Museum galleries, not the Ship. If you would like to virtually visit the Ship during your field trip, please select one of the programs below.
Grades K-12 │ Maximum 40 students │ 45 Minutes │ $100 │ Zoom Meeting
Join the Crew
Learn about life at sea on USS Constitution first-hand! From recruitment to daily activities to battle, students will experience a sailor’s life in 1812 and compare that to life in the US Navy today. This program is co-facilitated by a US Navy sailor on board USS Constitution.
Grades K-12 │ Maximum 40 students │ 60 Minutes │ $150│ Zoom Meeting
Ship Design Challenge
USS Constitution was built for speed and strength. Learn from this example in our galleries and on board the Ship with a U.S. Navy sailor, then follow the engineering design process to pick the winning boat in a virtual challenge.
Grades 3-5│Maximum 40 students│60 minutes│$150│Zoom Meeting
USS Constitution Codebreakers
Calling all decoders! Do you have what it takes to crack a sailor code? Sailors on USS Constitution used many codes to communicate on board the Ship in the early 1800s. In this virtual field trip, join a Museum educator and U.S. Navy sailor on board the Ship to test your skills decoding secret messages and solving our mystery.
Grades 3-5│Maximum 40 students│60 minutes│$150│Zoom Meeting
Beginning in July 2021, we will offer in-person programs to small groups. Programs will take place outside under a tent.
Grant funding is available for some groups: please visit the Before Your Program tab for more information.
To request a virtual or in-person program, please visit the Request a Program tab.
A Sailor’s Life for Me? (In-Person)
Discover if the sailor’s life is for you in this interactive program. Through engaging activities, students will learn about the tasks and teamwork required of early U.S. Navy sailors. Short on time but still want a faciliated experience? This is a great option.
This field trip visits the Museum, not the Ship. If you would like to visit the Ship during your trip, you can do so on your own (no reservations required) or select our ‘Join the Crew’ program.
Grades K-12 │ Maximum 20 students │ 30 Minutes │ $100
Join the Crew (In-Person)
Learn about life at sea on USS Constitution first-hand! From recruitment to daily activities to battle, students will experience a sailor’s life in 1812 and compare that to life in the US Navy today. This program is co-facilitated by a US Navy sailor on board USS Constitution.
Grades K-12 │ Maximum 20 students │ 60 Minutes │ $150
Confirmations and Details
Teachers or group leaders will receive a confirmation and invoice when booking process is complete. The USS Constitution Museum uses Zoom for virtual field trips, but staff can work with groups with other platform preferences. The Education Coordinator will send the link to access programs 48 hours before the scheduled program time. Group leaders should ensure they have access to a device that can use Zoom prior to the program. The link can be shared with students individually if they will be joining the program from home. On the day of the program, the link will be available 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. Please arrive early if schedules allow.
Changes & Cancellations
The museum requires changes or cancellations at least one week prior to the date of the program. All efforts will be made to reschedule, as there are no refunds on virtual programs.
Educator Resources
We encourage you to supplement your virtual program with lesson plans and activities from our Educator Resources. The USS Constitution Museum is committed to providing teachers with the tools and support they need to teach about USS Constitution and the War of 1812.
Grant Funding Opportunities
The museum is proud to offer the following funding opportunities to visiting groups. If you believe your group qualifies, please inquire when requesting a reservation.
Liberty Mutual Insurance – Free Programs for Boston School, After School and Summer Programs
The USS Constitution Museum is excited to offer fully subsidized virtual programs for all Boston schools and out-of-school enrichment programs thanks to the Liberty Mutual Insurance.
After the Visit
Our funders would love to hear from you! If you receive grant funding for a virtual program, please share any post-visit classroom activities that demonstrate impact or consider having your class write thank-you letters to the organization that made your trip possible. Forward to the USS Constitution Museum, P.O. Box 291812, Boston, MA 02129 (Attn: Group Reservations) or groupreservations@usscm.org and we will deliver them accordingly.
Reservation Process and Payment
To schedule a virtual or in-person education program at the Museum, please fill out the Program Request Form below. Once you submit the form, our education coordinator will reach out to confirm availability, collect credit card information, and finalize the reservation. Full payment is due at time of confirmation. A credit card is required to reserve a facilitated program at the USS Constitution Museum.
• Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance.
• Virtual Field Trips are available Monday – Friday between 10:00am and 5:00pm EST.
Questions? Contact our Education Coordinator by phone at 617-426-1812 x146 or email groupreservations@usscm.org for assistance.
USS Constitution Museum virtual field trips are supported by an Institute of Museum and Library Services Museums for America Grant and National Endowment for the Humanities CARES Act Grant.
