USS Constitution

Launched in 1797 and still in active service, “Old Ironsides” is the world’s oldest floating commissioned warship. Boarding is free, and it sits at the end of the Freedom Trail alongside the Bunker Hill Monument.

USS Constitution is a three-masted heavy frigate launched in 1797 for the US Navy. During the War of 1812, cannonballs bounced off its thick oak hull, earning it the nickname “Old Ironsides.” It remains an active US Navy ship, crewed by serving sailors, and is the world’s oldest commissioned warship still able to sail. The ship is moored at Charlestown Navy Yard, part of Boston National Historical Park. Boarding is free. At the security checkpoint, visitors aged 18 and older must show a photo ID. Tours are led by sailors in uniforms from 1812, and you can go down to the gun deck and crew quarters to see the 24-pound cannons and hammocks. The nearby USS Constitution Museum tells the story of shipbuilding and naval battles through interactive exhibits. It operates on a voluntary donation basis and is good for families. The shipyard also has the World War II destroyer USS Cassin Young, which is free to visit, and Dry Dock No. 1. A 10-minute walk from the shipyard brings you to Bunker Hill Monument, a 67-meter obelisk commemorating the first major battle of the American Revolutionary War in 1775. Climbing its 294 steps is free, and summer visits require a timed reservation. Getting there: at the northern end of the Freedom Trail, walk 15 minutes across the Charlestown Bridge. Or take the MBTA F4 ferry from Long Wharf, about 10 minutes and $3.70, to the shipyard dock, or take bus 93 from North Station. Tip: end your Freedom Trail day here, and take the ferry back to downtown to photograph the skyline from the water.

USS Constitution / Charlestown Navy Yard

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