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USS Constitution Museum

A quick visit to Boston’s USS Constitution Museum!

On a previous trip, I’d toured the USS Constitution itself, a frigate launched in 1797, which is located in Charlestown Navy Yard. Now part of Boston National Historic Park, the USS Constitution Museum and the surrounding yard are fascinating places to learn about shipbuilding and naval history.

This time, the enormous dry dock caught my attention. This video explains the history of the dry dock, opened in 1833, and still in use today.

A sign explains in simple terms how the dry dock operates.

Dry Dock #1: How It Works
Dry Dock #1: How It Works
Empty Dry Dock #1 with WW II destroyer USS Cassin Young and Boston skyline in the background
Empty Dry Dock #1 with WW II destroyer USS Cassin Young and Boston skyline in the background

A sign advises that the USS Constitution was the first ship to test this new dry dock system, entering it for repairs in 1833. As the video above shows, between my visits, the USS Constitution was in dry dock again from 2015 to 2017.

Here she is leaving dry dock on July 23, 2017. What a sight that must have been! I love how you can see that powerful little tug boat in action. (My grandfather was a tug boat Captain on the Great Lakes, so I have a soft spot for those important vessels.)

USS Constitution Museum is museum no. 24 in my #100museums challenge (see 100 Museums Challenge).