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Journal of Commodore William Bainbridge Extract from Commodore Bainbridge's Journal Kept on board the U. S. Frigate Constitution Wednesday 30th December 1812, (Nautical Time) Commences with Clear weather and moderate breezes from E.N.E. Hoisted our Ensign and Pendant. At 15 minutes past meridian, The ship hoisted her colours, an English Ensign, --having a signal flying at her Main Red Yellow-Red At 1.26 being sufficiently from the land, and finding the ship to be an English Frigate, took in the Main Sail and Royals, tacked Ship and stood for the enemy At 1 .50. P.M, The Enemy bore down with...

(photo at site) America’s oldest commissioned warship, USS Constitution, was finally refloated on Sunday following a two-year, multi-million dollar restoration at the historic Charlestown Navy Yard, located at the Boston National Historical Park. USS Constitution entered the yard’s Dry Dock 1 on May 18, 2015, and since then ship restorers and teams of Constitution Sailors have worked side-by-side to bring Old Ironsides back to her glory. The restoration included the replacement of 100 hull planks and the required caulking, the re-building of the ship’s cutwater on the bow, as well as the on-going preservation and repair of the ship’s rigging,...

Boston (AP) -- The USS Constitution, the world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat, will return Sunday to Boston's waters. The undocking of the "Old Ironsides" will mark the end of restoration work that started two years ago, officials said. A celebration will be held at the USS Constitution Museum. The wooden ship was launched in 1797 and earned its famous nickname notching victories in the War of 1812.

Old Ironsides’ Now Ready for Virtual Touring 'Old Ironsides' hosts Medal of Honor recipientsAmerica’s oldest warship afloat is headed into dry dock next month at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, but Google Maps and the U.S. Navy have made it possible for everyone to digitally visit the USS Constitution. Just as Google made it possible to zip virtually up and down city streets almost anywhere in the world, it can now put you on and below deck of “Old Ironsides,” the still-commissioned Navy warship that made a name for itself in campaigns against the French, North African pirates and...

Old Ironsides sailed through Boston Harbor Friday for the last time until 2018, as the 216-year-old warship prepares to undergo a three-year restoration beginning early next year. The USS Constitution has sailed unassisted by a tug boat only twice since 1881, in 1997 and 2012. This summer it sailed with the help of a tug, but still moved by its own power. Friday was the final unassisted sail until the ship has completed its restoration. Aside from making the usual repairs for wear and tear, the restoration aims to return Old Ironsides to an image of its 1812 self... ...For...

...At 2 p.m., USS CONSTITUTION opened fire on HMS JAVA, a 38-gun ship that was smaller and faster than her adversary and commanded by Capt. Henry Lambert. HMS JAVA's opening salvo damaged USS CONSTITUTION's rigging and spars and wounded Bainbridge. Raking fire from HMS JAVA to the American frigate's stern shattered the helm and killed or injured the four helmsmen. Wounded a second time in the thigh, Bainbridge passed steering orders to Marines in the ship's tiller room, who moved the rudder using block and tackle. Setting the fore and main courses, USS CONSTITUTION closed fast and delivered a broadside...

CHARLESTOWN, Mass. (NNS) -- USS Constitution departed her berth from Charlestown, Mass. Aug. 19, to set sail for the first time since 1997, during an underway demonstration commemorating Guerriere Day. The underway honored the 200th anniversary of Constitution's decisive victory over the HMS Guerriere during the War of 1812, marking the first time a United States frigate defeated a Royal Navy frigate at or nearly equal size. It's also the battle in which Constitution earned her famous nickname "Old Ironsides." The ship got underway at 9:57 a.m. with tugs attached to her sides and 285 people on board, including special...

Her 21 gun salute this morning! Missing some of her rigging due to a major renovation for the War of 1812 Bicentennial.

A short video in tribute of USS Constitution victory over HMS Java this day, 1812 that I made last year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klI0hI-hU4A My slideshow of Old Ironsides featuring both exterior and interior shots: http://flickr.com/photos/real_bostonian/sets/72157594266255332/show/ An interesting account by Constitution's captain on engaging Java between December 29th & 30th, 1812: http://www.history.navy.mil/docs/war1812/const6.htm And that of the British captain (well the surviving one): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Java_(1811)

USS Constitution under sail last week in Boston Harbor, Aug 24, 2007. (As viewed from Spectacle Island). Her final sail for the season is this Friday. "USS Constitution will be sailing under her own power into Boston Harbor (Aug 31st). She will take a cruise out to Deer Island and on the return trip will do a 21-gun salute when she passes Castle Island in South Boston. USS Constitution will leave port at 10am and should return around 1pm." (Constitution Website) This is her last sail for this season, then not again until the summer of 2010 due to maintenance...

A long time ago in an ocean not so far away, the USS Constitution blasted the British vessel HMS Guerriere into submission in a fierce firefight. Article Tools In that battle off the coast of Nova Scotia during the War of 1812, British cannonballs appeared to bounce off the wooden hull of the Constitution, resulting in the ship being forever known as ''Old Ironsides." For more than two centuries, the oldest commissioned warship in the world has stood as a symbol of patriotism for the American public, and particularly for those who have served aboard her.

The U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides) as a combat vessel carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea. She carried no evaporators (i.e. fresh water distillers!). However, let it be noted that according to her log, "On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum." Her mission: "To destroy and harass English shipping." Making Jamaica...

Nothing like the "Good Ole Days" for Sailors and Marines! The following is from the history of the oldest commissioned warship in the world, the USS Constitution. It comes by way of the National Park Service, as printed in "Oceanographic Ships, Fore and Aft", a periodical from the oceanographer of the US Navy. On 23 August 1779, the USS Constitution set sail from Boston, loaded with 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of water, 74,000 cannon shot, 11,500 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum. Her mission: to destroy and harass English shipping. On 6 October, she made...