USS Constitution Museum

USS Constitution Museum serves as the memory and educational voice of USS Constitution by collecting, preserving, and interpreting the stories of “Old Ironsides” and those associated with her. We seek to engage all ages in the story of Constitution to spark excitement about maritime culture, naval service, and the American experience. We will share “Old Ironsides”’ contributions with a global audience, and we will strive to be the best museum possible based on scholarship and innovative ways of sharing Constitution‘s stories.

Exhibits

Come explore the Museum and learn the history of USS Constitution while having fun in the following exhibits!

“Old Ironsides” in War and Peace: Sail through three centuries of USS Constitution‘s history! From the ship’s construction and early beginnings in the fledgling United States Navy, to the highs and lows of battle in the War of 1812, to diplomatic voyages and continued preservation, see how “Old Ironsides” rose to fame as a national icon.

All Hands on Deck: A Sailor’s Life in 1812: Join USS Constitution’s 1812 crew and set sail on a voyage of discovery for the whole family! Meet your fellow sailors and try your hand at everything from scrubbing the decks to balancing aloft to furl a sail. Along the way, you’ll follow the stories of real Constitution sailors and their families back home. These personal stories, uncovered through decades of research pouring over census records, memoirs, diaries, journals, letters, newspapers, and pension records, are brought to life through personal narratives, artifacts, and interactive displays. All Hands on Deck more than just learning about history—it’s a chance to connect with it.

LEGO® Shipyard: Our newest exhibit features a six-foot LEGO® model of “Old Ironsides” and challenge build activities for families, including building a boat and trying to make it sail in a water tank.

Participation in Museum Day is open to any tax-exempt or governmental museum or cultural venue on a voluntary basis. Smithsonian magazine encourages museum visitation, but is not responsible for and does not endorse the content of the participating museums and cultural venues, and does not subsidize museums that participate.