Wednesday, October 10, 2018

USS Constellation, Baltimore

The ship Constellation that sits in Baltimore's Inner Harbor is the second American naval vessel to bear that name. The first was built in Baltimore in 1797 and served in many missions, including the Blockade of Tripoli in 1802 and the defense of Baltimore during the War of 1812. She was broken up in Norfolk in 1855.

The second Constellation was built in Norfolk in 1855 (no word on whether they recycled parts from one for the second) and served in the Mediterranean and West Indies before joining the blockade of the Confederate States during the American Civil War. After the war, the ship was assigned to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where cadets trained on it during summer cruises. In the 1890s, the ship was converted to a stationary training vessel in Newport until the Navy stopped sail training in 1920. In 1914, it was cosmetically refitted to an 1814-era look for the centenary celebration of the writing of the Star Spangled Banner. The ship was decommissioned and towed to Boston to be a memorial. Funds were lacking and the ship was towed to Baltimore in 1955. After a decade of repairs (the delay mostly due to lack of funds), the ship was opened as a memorial in 1968 but closed again in 1994 due to extensive dry rot. Another commission was put together to restore the ship and it reopened in the Inner Harbor in 1999. It's been a tourist trap attraction since then.

We visited on a beautiful September day.

USS Constellation, with museum in front and modern buildings in back

Anchor on the shore

Replica of the wheel, also on shore

The original wheel

The museum is interesting but we did not spend too much time there since the kids were eager to see the ship. The diagram below was helpful in seeing how the wheel works as well as providing a preview of how many decks there are to see on the Constellation.

How it works--the helm!

We crossed over to the ship and admired the uncrowded deck (we arrive at our usual time, just when the ship opened at 10 a.m.).

View from the gangway

On deck

We had audio guides which were very helpful. The guide has both adult and child programs, so the more boring technical stuff (or gross medical stuff) is left out for the kids. My daughter enjoyed the description of the bell system for telling time and even tried ringing the bell.

Ship's bell

Ringing

The front of the ship (the ship's bow) was a fun spot since it had some small cannon and a description of the ship's head, or the toilet that most of the crew used.

Is it safe to admire the view?

The bow

The head explained

We went downstairs to the gun deck.

Larger cannon

The gun deck didn't hold just guns. We found the kitchen area and the captain's quarters, which are quite luxurious by US Naval standards.

Food display

Barrel of biscuits!

The stove

More guns

The ship is definitely more open and spacious than the other ships in the harbor!

Whoops, I forgot what this was!

The captain's quarters is a seven-room suite with his own dining table, a pantry, an office, a bedroom, and his own head!

Captain's quarters

Pantry

Office

Private bathroom!

Sleeping area

I was amazed to see the windlass (used for raising the anchor) had a below-decks component. Maybe they used it to raise the anchor in bad weather?

Windlass and stairs

Below was the berth deck, where the crew slept and several of the lesser officers had their accommodations and work areas.

Offices for the ship's carpenter and sailmaker

Plenty of hammocks are still hanging and our children could not resist trying them out.

Safely in bed

Too casual

Comfiness!

A mess area showed how the crew ate back in the 1800s--no table!

Mess for the sailors

Several offices and work areas on this deck are open for viewing.

Dispensary

Executive officer's room

View of exec's desk

Officers' Wardroom

Chaplain's room

Master's room

The bow of the ship has the doctor's room, which includes several supply cabinets and work areas, including hanging surgery beds.

Doctor's "table"

Medicine cabinet

Medicine and tools

One more floor down was the "basement" of the ship. It was definitely used as a basement, storing spare parts and ropes along with other key supplies.

Blocks and tackles (and anachronistic fire extinguisher)

More equipment

Neat rope storage

The most important stores of all!

A local distillery is using space on board to age their rum. I'll have to get some to try, though I fear the price may be high.

It was a great ship to visit and we highly recommend it!

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