USS Constitution Cruise, a tour of a historic naval vessel by Pushpitha Wijesinghe

The USS Constitution is a United States Navy ship which was initially launched in 1797; it has the distinction of being the oldest commissioned naval vessel in the world still on the waters. The ship was christened by none other than President George Washington with reference to the Constitution of the USA.

The principal reason for the continued functional existence of the old navy vessel is without a doubt its illustrious history. A traditional sailing vessel, the USS Constitution is a three-masted wooden hulled heavy frigate, and she along with her sister ships were envisaged as the American Navy's 'capital ships' (the largest and most powerful ships in a navy).

The first duties assigned to the USS Constitution were to protect US merchant ships at the time of the Quasi-war with France, and in the First Barbary War, to overcome Barbary pirates. The warship is however most renowned for its exploits in the War of 1812 against Great Britain, in which she overcame five British warships and captured many trading vessels. The ship earned its moniker 'Old Ironsides' with the epic battle against the British vessel HMS Guerriere as well as public acclaim that would time after time prevent it being scrapped.

After serving as flagship in the African and Mediterranean Squadrons, it circumnavigated the world in the 1840s. It served as a training ship at the time of the American Civil War, and was retired from operational service in 1881. In remembrance of its legacy the Constitution sailed again on its 200th birthday in 1997. Today the warship makes one turnaround cruise each year, with a lottery of interested persons conducted to determine the participants.

However anyone may take a tour of the magnificent old frigate and the best way to do so is to take a guided tour of the Boston Harbor area. Typically a fully narrated tour will offer the option of boarding and investigating the USS Constitution and the adjacent Naval Museum. Most tours will also explore sites such as the Boston Tea Party Boat, the Bunker Hill Monument and the Old North Church.

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Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

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