USS Constitution Museum and Shipyard Timber Basin
Why is it significant?
You have reached the USS Constitution Museum, housed inside historic Building 22, an imposing two-story granite storehouse constructed in 1854 to designs by prominent architect Alexander Parris.
Key Facts
| Place | USS Constitution Museum and Shipyard Timber Basin |
|---|---|
| Address | Building 22, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129, United States |
| Geo Coordinates | 42.37350, -71.05520 |
| Part of Walk | Charlestown Navy Yard, USS Constitution and Bunker Hill: Boston's Revolutionary Bastions |
| Generated | Generated |
You have reached the USS Constitution Museum, housed inside historic Building 22, an imposing two-story granite storehouse constructed in 1854 to designs by prominent architect Alexander Parris. The museum preserves, interprets, and exhibits an extraordinary collection of over two thousand rare artifacts, ship models, logbooks, and personal diaries documenting the lives of the boys and men who sailed Old Ironsides into world history.
In the nineteenth century, Building 22 operated as the Navy Yard's central pump house and engine works, containing colossal steam-powered beam engines that pumped thousands of gallons of water per minute out of Dry Dock 1 during ship dockings.
Step through the museum's interactive galleries to experience life aboard an 1812 frigate: visitors can furl a heavy canvas sail high on a swaying yardarm, sleep in a tight canvas hammock suspended just inches above fellow crewmates, and experience the thunderous noise and smoke of a gun deck in the heat of battle. Among the museum's priceless artifacts are captain's silver presentation swords, original 1797 ship blueprints drawn by Joshua Humphreys, and the personal journals of surgeon Amos Evans recording amputations performed by candlelight during naval battles. Outside the museum lies the historic timber basin, where massive oak and pine logs were once soaked in salt water for years to cure the wood before being cut into ship ribs and masts.
The museum brings the human dimension of naval history into vivid focus. It honors not only the famous commanders, but the four hundred and fifty ordinary seamen, blacksmiths, powder boys, and sailmakers whose teamwork and grit secured America's naval sovereignty. The engaging historical exhibits and preserved ship timbers celebrate the enduring teamwork, courage, and ingenuity that enabled USS Constitution to achieve her legendary naval victories.
Walk eastward along the pier toward the gray steel silhouette of the destroyer USS Cassin Young.