USS Constitution Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1972 |
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| Location | Boston Navy Yard Building 22 Charlestown, Boston, Massachusetts 02129 |
The USS Constitution Museum is a cool place to visit in Boston, Massachusetts. It's located in the Charlestown Navy Yard, which is part of the Boston National Historical Park. You can find the museum right next to the famous ship USS Constitution, also known as "Old Ironsides." This spot is at the end of Boston's historic Freedom Trail. The museum itself is inside an old, restored building that used to be part of the shipyard.
The museum is filled with amazing collections and fun, hands-on exhibits. It shares the exciting story of the Constitution and all the people who helped build and sail her. The museum also has a special library called the Samuel Eliot Morison Memorial Library. This library keeps many important records about the ship's long history. The USS Constitution Museum is a private group, meaning it's run separately from the Navy ship itself.
Contents
Explore the Exhibits
- All Hands On Deck – This exhibit is for everyone! It lets you experience what life was really like at sea during the War of 1812. You can try out different activities and see how sailors lived.
- Old Ironsides in War and Peace' – Learn all about the Constitutions incredible journey. Discover why and how this famous ship was built. Find out how she became known as "Old Ironsides" during the War of 1812. You'll also learn why she is still preserved today as the United States Navy's oldest active warship.
- "Old Ironsides" War of 1812 Discovery Center – This interactive area helps you understand the causes and effects of the War of 1812. You can play games, watch videos, read books, and enjoy other hands-on activities.
- Constitution vs HMS Java – This exhibit tells the story of a famous battle. It shows how the Constitution fought against the British ship HMS Java. You can see artwork, old records, and items from that battle.
Special Awards Program
The museum's leaders give out three important awards each year. These awards honor people who have done great things related to the Constitution or their community.
The Samuel Eliot Morison Award
This is the highest award given by the museum. It honors someone whose public service has helped the image of the Constitution. The person should also be like Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison. He was a great scholar, proud of his country, and loved the sea. He also wanted to save important parts of our past for future generations.
The Charles Francis Adams Award
This award honors the museum's founder, Charles Francis Adams IV. He spent his life supporting his community. This award recognizes people who have followed his example. It goes to individuals or teams who have worked to make their community better. Their good work must have brought positive changes to the people living there.
The Don Turner Award
This award honors Don Turner. He used to be in charge of keeping "Old Ironsides" in good shape. He was amazing at preserving the ship and the old skills used to build her. This award recognizes others who work to save important ships. It also honors those who have helped us understand more about ship design and how ships are built.
See also
- National Museum of the United States Navy § Other Navy museums
- List of maritime museums in the United States
Images for kids
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The museum in 2019
