Historic Boston: U.S.S Constitution

It’s starting. They’re coming. Tourists. Everywhere. Sporting duck whistles and fanny packs, they’re infiltrating the city as you’re reading this post. And with July 4th inching closer … and closer … more will come. You cannot escape them.

Bostonist got a healthy dose of Boston tourism last weekend, waiting in line for an hour and a half (an hour and a half!) to get a tour of the U.S.S. Constitution. Why? Two reasons. First, because we’re nerds. Second, because we love Boston. Even though tourist season is kicking into high gear, we’re not going to keep ourselves from doing the nerdy historical things we like doing. We’ll wait in line.

Especially for the U.S.S. Constitution, located at the Charlestown Navy Yard. Built in Boston in 1797, the ship is the oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat in the world. It was one of six frigates built in the wake of the Naval Act of 1794, when the newly independent country began to establish a navy. The U.S.S. Constitution served in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, during which the ship earned its nickname, “Old Ironsides.” Of the 33 battles in which it took part, the ship never lost one. Boston has been its permanent home since 1897. The ship is remarkably well preserved (though only 15 percent of the ship is original, and the original parts are below the waterline) and maintained by the U.S. Navy. The tour is given by commissioned sailors and is very…pro-patriotism (there’s a recruiting table on your way off the ship), but it’s very well managed and thorough.

So, yeah, the line’s long, but the free admission and guided tour make this a landmark worth waiting for. If you’re a Bostonian and haven’t yet seen the ship in person, you’re missing out. The free museum is a great take-in as well. There’s nothing wrong with doing what the tourists are doing. Just leave the fanny packs at home. Please.

Post contributed by Kate Danckert.