Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.
7 stirring images of the birthday cruise the US Navy just threw for its 222-year-old warship
7 stirring images of the birthday cruise the US Navy just threw for its 222-year-old warship
Ellen Ioanes,Ellen IoanesOct 21, 2019, 22:16 IST
USS Constitution is tugged through the Boston harbor during Constitution's birthday cruise.Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Alec Krame / US Navy / DVIDS
Advertisement
The USS Constitution celebrated its 222nd birthday on October 18, 2019, with a cruise around the Boston Harbor. The ship forst set sail on October 21, 1797, after two failed attempts.
The Constitution earned its nickname, "Old Ironsides," during the War of 1812, when enemy fire couldnt't penetrate its hull.
The Constitution still has a full crew and is the US's Ship of State, hosting visiting dignitaries and acting as a site to sign important legislation regarding the military.
A 222nd birthday is quite a milestone, and the USS Constitution celebrated in style on Friday. A cruise through Boston Harbor showed off Old Ironsides, the oldest commissioned ship in the Navy, according to the National Parks Service.
Although the ship isn't engaged in warfighting anymore, it hosts visitors as an historic site, along with the USS Constitution Museum in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
Read on to learn more about the USS Constitution's history.
The Constitution started construction in 1794, and first set sail October 21, 1797.
She was built in Boston as one of the US Navy's first six warfighting ships after the United States gained independence. The Constitution was first engaged during a dispute between the US and France called the Quasi-War, which took place between 1798 and 1800, according to the US Historian.
It wasn't until the War of 1812 that she earned her nickname.
The War of 1812 involved the US in a trade dispute between Britain and France, which later spiraled into a conflict over national sovereignty, territorial control, and westward expansion by the US.
But during the conflict, the Constitution's hull was apparently so strong — like iron — that enemy fire couldn't penetrate, earning the nickname "Old Ironsides."
The Constitution still has a full crew, which maintains the ship.
The ship maintains an active-duty commander and crew, who keep the vessel and its gear ship-shape and give tours to members of the public.
After her lengthy service and legendary survivability in the War of 1812, rumors began to circulate in the 1830s that Old Ironsides would be retired.
Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote the poem"Old Ironsides" to stir public sentiment to save her, according to the USS Constitution Museum. She remained in service until 1853, and was converted into a naval school ship between 1857 and 1860.
In 1925, US school children raised $154,000 to restore the Constitution.
