Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Alec Krame / US Navy / DVIDS
USS Constitution is tugged through the Boston harbor during Constitution's birthday cruise.
- 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.
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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.