The USS Constitution earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" during the famed battle with the British frigate HMS Guerriere. An American sailor observed cannon balls bouncing off the Constitution's hull proclaiming that her wooden sides were like iron.

The battle between the USS Constitution and the HMS Guerrierre was one of the first naval engagements in the War of 1812, and represented only one of the successful combat engagements in the long, illustrious career of the USS Constitution.

Sea lanes are of paramount importance to the economy of a nation and the United States faced a hostile world at the turn of the 19th century. In response to mounting problems with piracy and nation sponsored privateering, the U.S. Congress created a naval establishment and authorized the construction of six frigates, one of which was the USS Constitution.

The frigates were the backbone of the newly created U.S Navy. They won key naval victories instrumental in winning the peace.

The USS Constitution has become a source of national pride, and the American public has rescued her several times from the scrapyard.

She is the oldest U.S. Navy warship on active duty since her launching in Boston harbor on October 21, 1797. Numerous dry dock periods over the years strived to maintain the ships structural integrity.

The USS Constitution is a national monument symbolizing the rich seafaring tradition of the country, and the commitment to maintaining the freedom of the sea for all who ride her waves.