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 touristtrap attraction since then.
We visited on a beautiful September day.
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.
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.).
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.
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.
We went downstairs to the gun deck.
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.
The ship is definitely more open and spacious than the other ships in the harbor!
The captain's quarters is a seven-room suite with his own dining table, a pantry, an office, a bedroom, and his own head!
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?
Below was the berth deck, where the crew slept and several of the lesser officers had their accommodations and work areas.
Plenty of hammocks are still hanging and our children could not resist trying them out.
A mess area showed how the crew ate back in the 1800s--no table!
Several offices and work areas on this deck are open for viewing.
The bow of the ship has the doctor's room, which includes several supply cabinets and work areas, including hanging surgery beds.
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.
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!
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
We visited on a beautiful September day.
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| USS Constellation, with museum in front and modern buildings in back |
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| Anchor on the shore |
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| Replica of the wheel, also on shore |
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| 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.
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| 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.).
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| View from the gangway |
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| 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.
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| Ship's bell |
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| 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.
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| Is it safe to admire the view? |
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| The bow |
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| The head explained |
We went downstairs to the gun deck.
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| 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.
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| Food display |
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| Barrel of biscuits! |
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| The stove |
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| More guns |
The ship is definitely more open and spacious than the other ships in the harbor!
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| 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!
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| Captain's quarters |
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| Pantry |
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| Office |
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| Private bathroom! |
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| 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?
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| 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.
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| Safely in bed |
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| Too casual |
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| Comfiness! |
A mess area showed how the crew ate back in the 1800s--no table!
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| Mess for the sailors |
Several offices and work areas on this deck are open for viewing.
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| Dispensary |
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| Executive officer's room |
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| View of exec's desk |
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| Officers' Wardroom |
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| Chaplain's room |
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| 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.
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| Doctor's "table" |
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| Medicine cabinet |
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| 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.
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| Blocks and tackles (and anachronistic fire extinguisher) |
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| More equipment |
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| Neat rope storage |
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| 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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