USS Constitution - A Tour from Keel to Upper Deck 

Pinned post for Q&A :)

When Queen Elizabeth toured the ship in the 80s or 90s, she was shown some cannons that had British markings on them. Obviously they'd been captured in battle and used to replace damaged American ones. The Queen however turned to an aide and said in jest "We must do something about these foreign arms sales now shouldn't we." I've always found that story funny.

Recently uncovered footage of a boarding action by British forces aboard USS Constitution(Colorized)

Hahah. I love the fact that tourists thought you worked for the Constitution museum, and you just went with it. Good stuff.

That happened to me aboard USS Drum. A bunch of kids were asking their parents questions that they didn't have answers to, there was I, fresh out of the Navy with said answers because I had been on submarines, and I spent the next 40 minutes organizing about 7 kids in the Drum's control into a proper submarine crew. Parents just assumed I worked for the park and thanked me afterwards for making the trip so memorable for their kids.

In the fall of 1968 my ship, USS Samuel B Roberts DD823 went to the Boston Shipyard for a refit. We were there through the winter and on one weekend Boston experienced one of the worst snow storm of the century. We were in the drydock next to the Constitution when in the middle of the night when we were aroused to get up and help the Constitution pull her back in here mooring. The storm brought with it high winds and the Constitution had pulled loose from the mooring and they needed all hands to help bring her back in. She must have been at least 100 feet from the pier when we got to the pier and there were only two lines that were holding her back. It was quite an experience bringing her back next to the pier.

Born and bred in Boston and been three times to the Constitution, but never learned as much as today. Thanks so much, Drach.

Huge respect and thanks to the crew of the USS Constitution and the US Navy for the highly appreciated help and cooperation given to Drachinifel in the making of this video.

I enlisted in the navy in 1981. Shortly after that, I visited USS Constitution. While on the tour, my girlfriend Katie who I was with let the crew know I just joined the navy. The crew took me under their wing, showed me parts of the ship not seen by tourists. I got to hang out with them in the crew quarters. The Constitution crew took me clubbing to celebrate joining the navy. USS Constitution is part of my personal history.

Drach, I was amused to see you ended up being an accidental tour guide. The guests were quite fortunate. I'm an amateur warbird historian, and wind up in similar circumstances at airshows. It's wonderful being able to answer people's questions. Best regards and thank you so much for this video!

I am a former crew member of Constitution, and have enjoyed this tour very much. Thanks Drach. I have fired the 40mm saluting batteries (one on each side), although when I was on her, the saluting batteries were the two most forward guns on the gundeck. I do not know when they got moved back aft but it is clearly safer than pointing the gun at the pier, which is what happens when the ship is moored bow in, and the foremost guns are pointed slightly forward of directly abeam (perpendicular to the ships keel) as you could see in the video of the gun deck, forward of the ships galley (the empty gunports second from the bow, on each side, were the ones we used to use). I spent two wonderful years on board, as a tour guide, and ships crew, performing maintenance and upkeep on the days when I was not on tour guide duty. I was assigned to the small boat maintenance area over in the main dockyard building, where the real work on keeping the ship floating happens. I was a member of the Captain's gig rowing crew, and took part in the Charles river regatta both years I was on board. Again, well done Drach, and thanks for the memories.

Define irony: A US ship that fought part of war against the British because the British impressed Americans to serve in its navy… has a British man working as a forced tour guide and eventual volunteer gunner aboard her. What a time to be alive. Love the video Drach!

Can we see that 40 minute lecture you did with the tourist? Would love to see their reaction when you tell them you dont work for the museum

Uhhhh, Drach....were there any sailors from the recruting station in Boston near by when you fired the gun? Naval regs state "Any persons who fires US Constitutions gun will have by that action vollenteered to join the US Navy." Congrats Drach your a Gunners mate striker now!!!

she's also the oldest ship that's still in active duty. though she isn't used in conflicts anymore many us sailors will have the pleasure of sailing her during celebrations.

Love that Drac stood by and respectfully until color's finished .. Even if he didn't know what/why (wouldn't surprised me that he did). He got to retire the colors for all 3. U.S. Navy here sir .. keep up the good work. /salute

"A 32 pound, short barreled carronade." >Because sometimes you want to see 'the whites of their eyes' before you send them to their god. "If you imagine a bar-fight." >Good to see Drach immersed in Boston culture. Drachinifel....international tour guide impersonator. Firing ship's guns. Makes me look forward to the USS New Jersey tour.

As a Bostonian, I've had the privilege of going aboard USS Constitution many times, including during one of her periodic refits in drydock. I've also been on a harbor cruise during the firing of the salute cannon for evening colors. I'm envious that you got to fire the cannon, Drach, but what an honor that was. I have stood at Castle Island during many of Constitution's "turnaround" cruises and felt one of her salute shots thump me in the chest. Even from a few hundred yards away, you can definitely feel it. At her turnaround cruises, Constitution will fire a 21-gun salute at Fort Independence (Castle Island in South Boston ("Southie")) with a reply given by the same artillery battery that fires for the 1812 Overture for the Boston Pops 4th of July concert.

As a former sailor, who isn't fond of heights, I can't imagine being in those fighting tops in any more than a light chop.

Great video. Two things: The Navy has a grove of oaks in Indiana where they grow trees that will become replacement parts for Constitution; when reveille is played in the morning, the colors rocket up whatever device that is holding them, and when the "Retreat" bugle call is played in the evening, the flag comes down ever so very slowly. Old Glory stands up must faster than she stands down.

I found the scene where Drach got to fire the saluting gun for evening colors as a guest of the US Navy, with the fanfare to honor fallen sailors, particularly moving for some reason. Cheers! 🍺

That's so awesome how they treated you, the access you got and who wouldn't want to pull that handle and hear BOOM :) Enjoyed it bunches thanks Drach

The irony of an Englishman firing a salute from the USS Constitution is just delicious. That and the tourists thinking the BEST person to discuss USN armaments is an Englishman is even better!😂 Seriously, Thank You for doing this video- I couldn't get time off to see you in Boston, but, it was nice to meet you at Battleship Cove. As always, an exceptionally informative and entertaining episode!

If those tourists were smart, they would have stood within earshot the whole time 😂 probably wouldn’t have got any better thorough free tour of the Constitution.

Always knew there was something special about the USS Constitution that allowed her to prevail against her foes. Your ability to put her assets in prospective for us was greatly appreciated.

Spectacular! I, as a retired USAF First Sergeant thank you heartily for keeping our traditions alive!

It’s a little known fact that the USS Constitution was once attended to by autonomous robots that routinely fought off scavengers until taking flight and landing on a nearby skyscraper. The whole ordeal was facilitated by one vault dweller that had been frozen for many years.

29:00 Britain, after more than two centuries and several notable defeats at the hands of this vessel, finally manages to commandeer the Constitution with what merely appears to be a presentation on ammunition. As this is a role typically filled by active duty US Navy sailors it is quite clear this will no longer be the case until the vessel is returned to her rightful owners. Edit: Here at the end of the video now, I just want to thank you for maintaining a respectful silence during evening colors. Firing a salute from one of Connie's guns must have awakened some boyish excitement (It certainly would for myself.), so I genuinely aprreciate your respect for ceremony and tradition.

At last a British got to make the Constitution lower her colours. Oddly, this doesn't ruffle my patriotic feathers. This was very well presented and (personally) very educational. Thank you for your efforts, the love you have shows.

I toured Old Ironsides over 50 years ago with my mom. I went home with a Revell model which took me weeks to finish. That day stays with me vividly.

What a great tour! In 2nd grade (age 7yo), I had to get parental permission to check out a book about USS Constitution from our elementary school library (judged to be 5th grade reading material at the time). Reading that book triggered my life-long love of history and the sea. I have been aboard USS Constitution, but in 1970! Very cool to see you actively involved in evening Colors (I'm US Army, retired). Thank you!

Huzzah! Good to see her on here. I got to visit her during her last refit when they were re-doing her copper sheathing, and they were inviting people to engrave their names on the sheets of copper to be put on. My signature is on her hull somewhere.

I took a tour of the Constitution and noticed that the lower deck guns had the British Crown on them. I asked if the guns were captured and the guide told me that they had been cast by using a captured gun to make the molds and that's why they still had British markings. I thought that was an interesting detail. Great video.

Epic! Did you get to keep the casing? Glad they rolled out the red carpet. To have your name in the log, what an honor to carry. A tribute to your incredible efforts and contributions as a Naval Historian

A long time (Royal) Navy fiction reader, I made the USS Constitution my first stop on my first visit to Boston on my first visit to the USA. Being aboard the kind of ship that fought the Napoleonic and Anglo-American wars was a mind blowing experience. A work of art and a deadly piece of machinery.

U.S. Navy really delivering the goods here. As always a very informative, impressive, and fun video. Thanks!

Drach, thank you so much for posting this! Wow, if this is how the rest of your tour of American museum ships went, we certainly are certainly in for quite a treat! What a thrill that must of been to fire the evening salute!

Drach, Loved the entire episode, especially your impromptu demonstration regarding age of sail ammunition. Something similar happened to me in 1989, when serving as a US Navy lieutenant I had the honor of being the re-enlisting officer for one of my chief petty officers. The ceremony was conducted aboard Constitution by the taffrail, and many of the tourists thought we were part of the tour! The year prior my wife (she's from Surrey) and I were married, and we had friends come over from England for the ceremony. We had time to tour Constitution prior to their flight out of Logan Airport, and they couldn't help but remark how it was "Bloody unsporting of us Yanks" to use some English made 24 pounders during the War of 1812...

Though descended from Bostonians, I have never had the opportunity to visit her, though have seen her from afar. Thanks, especially for the last bit firing the saluting cannon. I served in the U.S Navy in 1961-4 aboard a modern Missile Frigate, DLG-11. If you note the dates, you will realize I was aboard when President kennedy was assassinated. I still have two of the 40mm saluting shell casings from our ship's 24 hourly salutes at anchor in Yokusuka, Japan. The sounds of evening colors aboard U.S.S. Constitution are still quite nostalgic this many years onward.

About to see this absolute legend in about an hour. Shout out to my wife, who doesn’t REALLY care about ships (because she served in the coast guard) but is taking me there for my birthday because she rules!!

Well, I think I just resolved the question of whether HMS Hood is a battlecruiser or a fast battleship - it has two masts thus it is a **brig**. You can give me the Nobel peace prize now.

When I was in boot camp in 1976 a member of our company got orders to the Constitution. I was a great honor for a new recruit. Thank you for the tour.

ok i am massively jealous of the tourists who got an unscripted Drachinifel special on ammunition in the age of sail by sheer accident. Lucky sods.

its so cool to see a ship that fought in the early 1800's thats still commissioned and still has an active duty US navy crew operating it

I don't get to watch and complete that many of your videos but this one I enjoyed from start to finish. Thank you!

I'm envious of the tourists who got the college level lecture about the age of sail shot and armaments! Way to go, Drach!! 😊

judging from the tone of your voice, I'm not sure which one you enjoyed more: firing the evening salute, or having the honor of signing your name to the book of gunners about USS Constitution. either way, I'm glad you had the chance to walk the deck of another age-of-sail ship that had seen service.

Constitution is so cool. Boston is really lucky to have her.

Great presentation @Drachinifel thanks for producing this video. It was great fun watching it and also seeing so many enthusiastic responses. Constitution is a magnificent ship. Ive grown up on her through visiting her and the Charlestown Navy Yard over countless visits over decades now. I was even on her when she actually sailed under her own sail power in 1997. She was heeled over a bit and reached a nice 7 knot clip in the harbor. It was glorious to stand on her as the wind carried her that day. Thank the full-time professional civilian Naval History Heritage and Command Detachment Boston crew for their ongoing and continuous maintenance, restoration, and repair of the ship for all. They are responsible for keeping her afloat and as we see her today.

That was so cool. I had tears watching this. America's sailing navy was a source of pride for our young nation. Our sailors could hold their own against anyone and our ship builders set the standard others sought to copy. Great video. Looks exactly like I remember when I stood on her deck 58 years ago. Imagine if the U.S.S. Iowa fired a salute at sunset. The Naval Air Base in Lemoore would here it.

"A stiff morning breeze ruffles the hair of a British boarder on the upper deck of USS Constitution"

You’ve inspired me to get back to finishing my Revelle model of the Constitution that has been sitting for several years an ignominious state of partial completion. Thanks for the rousing kick in the pants!!! 🎇😮 Fantastic video!! 🇺🇸🇬🇧

I was there with my family a several years ago. I had expressed an interest to our tour guide ( a Petty Officer 2) to see the raked ribs that are a hallmark of a Humphrey's build frigate. That sharp raking of the ribs is what held up the bow and stern, allowing for the the hydrodynamic hull, as well as the large weight of shot. After the tour, he brough be down to the keel, and I got to see a lot of the same things shown in this video ( not the magazine though :( ) Excellent video.

Great video. I’m a historian and veteran of the USMC (so part of the Navy-insert joke here-“Only good Marine is a submarine!” Yes, the Marines are a department of the Navy…the MEN’S Department! Lol) I just wanted to thank you for sharing this video with us folks who don’t get around as much as they used to. Really fascinating to take a virtual tour and you’re a great “guide.” I remember in ‘76, when the US had that day where the harbor was FULL of ships. Can’t remember if that was near the 4th and part of our bicentennial celebration or what but I’m sure someone out there knows what I am talking about!? Thanks again for sharing this with us! Best wishes. ❤️🫡👍🏼

Hey Drac! Something most probably overlook when it comes to how Old Ironsides was so strong is actually the WOOD she was made from! Mind you, after many years of naval production, the British Isles had been pretty well picked over for the "best trees" to use for large shipbuilding lumber. Built in the New World full of virgin forests, the Constitution was built from a "candy store" of very old growth trees with EXCEPTIONALLY tight and dense wood grain due to what's called "The Little Ice Age" from roughly the 16th to the 19th centuries.

My goodness, the bit at the end brought a bit of a tear to my eye. Well done, man.

I got to participate in evening colors onboard her 6 years ago, she’s a beautiful ship.

Super awesome that they brought you in to serve as a gunners mate! You're in good company.

god I love this ship and the personnel aboard helping out and being so kind as to allow us all a greater learning experience with her :)

I am 65, a retired Merchant Marine sailor, love your show. I grew up not far from the Constitution. I was 7 years old and I read my first book on the history of the USS Constitution. I had metal book ends back then and they were made from some other metal parts from the constitution. My dad was a huge fan of sailing and particularly of racing his 37 foot sloop every wednesday. I remember I was watching the USS Constitution in her refit and a flat bed truck pulled into the yard with this huge tree lying on the flat bed. It was 5 feet in diameter at least. Being a tree lover I saw that the restoration of the Constitution as a beautiful and justifiable expenditure of the before mentioned tree. So 5 feet in diameter and 100 feet long. It needs to be mentioned that the tree was over hanging the bed of the truck by 20 feet with it`s obligatory flag on the end of the tree.

Drach never stops to amaze me, hearing him referring to bar fights has shine a whole new light over him, the old brawler Drach 😉 As always an awsome video 😍

I was able to tour Old Ironsides in July 1984. My Navy ship spen a few days around Independence Day in Boston Harbor. We also watched them take her out into the harbor and turn her around, to even out the hull wear.

To be accurate, numerous British ship captains did board USS Constitution. Captains of HMS Java, HMS Guerriere etc.

I am quite pleased that you came here to experience our nation's rich naval heritage in person, and while seriously rocking the Bond villain look!

11:00 The main reason for drawing off to perform repairs before accepting a defeated foe's surrender isn't to repair hull damage in a ship like this but to repair damage to the rigging. USS Constitution was much less prone to significant hull damage but her rigging was as exposed as anyone else's.

When my son was about ten years old, I entered my name in a lottery for tix to be guests aboard Old Ironsides as it was turned, as it is twice annually so that the sides wear evenly at its dock. We won the tix, and were aboard as it was towed out across Boston Harbor to Castle Island, where it exchanged a salute before returning to its dock. It’s such a special memory of when my son was younger.

I love you and your videos. I really do. They're educational and your voice is soothing. I have no clue where/how I found your channel but as someone who is heavily into naval things, I am so glad it exists. Keep doing all these videos and make sure to stay safe out there!

Okay, everyone else is telling Old Ironside's stories. When I was about 5-6 and my brother 2 years younger (~195-57) my Dad got us on board during a minor renovation and I have a picture of the two of us standing next to the ship's wheel. I can barely reach the upper handles. Years, when in college, I was amazed at how much the ship's wheel had shrunk. Thanks for a great tour, Drach. You did a nice job and it seems the crew appreciated it. There was a time when the crew was in period uniforms, but I could not tell when anymore.

Thank you Drach for being so respectful! This was a real treat and I wish I could have been there for your lecture! I know I've played the unofficial tour guide at museums myself, so I know how you feel!

That is such a pretty ship. Centuries old, and still fully functional. Things last if you take care of them.

Brought a tear to my eye watching you signal colors. Carry on, Drach!

Makes me happy they provided you with such an honor. This shows the respect you enjoy in the historical community.

The rigging is what fascinates me the most. The fact that it's so complicated and there would be dozens of sailors that have to know exactly what they are doing all working together, and expected to do it in bad weather and while being fired at by dozens of cannons from an enemy ship.

I visited the US Constitution in the mid 50s when I was 12 or 13 and again in the mid 70s when freinds from our Air Force days visited. I remember the first visit as if it was last week. Even as a youngster, I was thoroughly impressed with the massive Oak Ribs running from the Gunnels to the Keel, the masts, rigging and Oak Decking.

I do love how USS Constitution is still very much an active part of the USN, and her having the status of signalling the evening salute is something I didn't know, but absolutely fits that. She's obviously a very special ship to the USN and the fact she is pristine AND active reflects that. I confess to being a bit of a romantic about these kind of things, but there's something about a former combatant such as museum ships/tanks/planes that are still able to actively tell their story, in Constitution's case, having a working (if quite modern) gun for saluting work, along with her still being capable of sailing under her own power, fits right into that. I do confess, I do rather envy the fact Constitution can still sail under her own power. The RN has lost so much of it's history over the years and so I dearly wish someone would throw a boat load (Pun intended) of cash to get Victory or Warrior into a similar sailable state. Not to one-up the US, but for the joy of seeing these ships sailing. In fact, the idea of seeing Victory and Constitution meeting and sailing together is something I'd give a great deal to see.

Thank you for this video. That was a great end that the USN allowed you to participate in. Thank you to Gunner's Mate Second Class Neves for the demonstration.

had a verry emotional reaction to the firing of the cannon at the lowering of the flag. Wonderful video tour. Thank you Drach for making this work of educational art.

What a great honor for both the crews! Don't know how I missed this episode but a brilliant one and loved the ammo explanation.

Bravo to the Crew of the Constitution for recognizing an amazing opportunity to not only make a Naval History Nerd's Dreams come true, but also the chance to share something of naval culture with all those who follow Drac. *looks at his subscription numbers* A Very good idea, damn, i remember when he was still just doing the 5 min videos and a handful of drydocks.

One of the best that you have ever done Drach. They ought to hire you as a tour guide. Maybe not as we would not have your other wonderful videos and history lessons. Awesome job.

This video really brings homes how complex and important a ship's rigging is and how skilled the crew has to be to maintain it.

I'm down in Rhode Island, about an hour drive away from Boston, whenever I'm in Boston I always go and take a look at Constitution if I have time. A really beautiful ship.

Drach, your knowledge of ships of the sail and their battles is just amazing! It is such a joy when you rattle off so much information, and why things are as they are. I had no idea about the ropes holding the mast in tack either, let alone all about the guns and their ammo. It was truly fun to see so much of the ship, which probably only you would be allowed in those special places. I look forward to more of your US tour.

Firing the gun brought a tear to my eye. Thank you for the wonderful tour. Go Navy !

Being born in Boston and seeing her every day its cool that you came to see Boston and her History. I lived here 15 years and i have only been on her once :(

Drach, great video. I was fortunate to see HMS victory and USS Constitution in the same year. After visiting the constitution I was struck by the size of the ship and thought wow what an amazing warship for the 19th century. Then, I visited Portsmouth and the HMS victory and I was struck by the immense size of that ship and the good luck that the constitution never saw her sails on the horizon. She was a behemoth compared to the constitution.

Imagine if Drach cosplayed as Henry Hope and boarded in full uniform, only to then present the guide as if nothing was different.

Great extended tour! You were quite honored during your visit, too. -I hope you enjoyed your detailed visit to the Navy's most beautiful commissioned ship!

Haven't heard evening colors in over 20 years since I was in the Navy. Brings back memories.

The lecture with the tourists totally reminds me of Ian from Forgotten Weapons, when he went on a Battlefield tour in France and ended up giving an impromptu lecture to tourists on a tour bus.

Most hilarious thing ever you literally posted this while I was on the train to get to the constitution for work lol

In 1990, when living in Boston as a 'Brit abroad', I was lucky enough to go out in the harbour alongside Constitution during her annual 'turnaround'. I also have a small numbered piece of her hull originally taken out during her 1973 restoration. The museum in Fall River, Massachusetts is also well worth a visit if you're ever out that way, Drach.

Visited the ship a couple years ago with kids in tow. This was a much more in depth visit than I was able to get onboard. Thank you!

Thank you so much for this video! It’s a thrill to see. In 2006, I worked for the USS Constitution Museum, but was based in Washington, DC. I researched the pension records of the officers and crew of the Constitution at the National Archives. It was such an honor to get read the stories of the ship’s battles and its crew in the original paperwork, including letters written by scribes describing how the men had been injured or killed. I haven’t actually visited the ship since then, though I had visited previously. I really need to get back! I got so interested that I read a lot of naval history, which informed catalog entry I wrote for the Corcoran Gallery about a painting depicting the engagement of the frigate President with the British Squadron in 1815. So your tour and demonstration mean a great deal to me. Well done! Thank you!

~29:00 a couple friends and I were doing a school project at the zoo, and part of it was "presenting" information about various animals. During one of them, a group of children noticed and gathered around, thinking we worked for the zoo. It was great, and I hope we're still remembered by some of those children as the crazy people we are.

Drach at 2:00 "Yes, I am cosplaying as a corporate muscle from your favorite dystopian sci-fi franchise, what about it?"

The last time I was at Old Ironsides it was undergoing a refit in January 1998. I was on my honeymoon in Boston and took my wife to visit the naval yard. Granted it is not a normal thing to take a new wife to see, however she knew how important it was to me since we are in the area to see the Constitution.

We visited Old Ironsides in July of 1976 for the US bi-centennial for which it had just been refitted. There were a few more people on deck for that. It's nice to have my memories of this great ship refreshed. The next year we got to walk the decks of the USS Missouri which was a floating monument on the west coast at a US Navy station near Seattle Washington.

I have been on and toured the spectacular USS Constitution twice. Once not long ago when all her masts and rigging were down for refurb. I have finally seen the great Constitution and some of her fantastic details through your video. Thank you, good sir. And super congrats on firing her evening gun salute. Great stuff man!

Visited a bud in Boston and tried to go see this. I basically forced my friends to commit a partial day to seeing historical stuff. I was devastated when they closed the doors for the day as we were ~ 30 yards away. I hope one day I can get back to see it, and hopefully go on the destroyer they had nearby! That wasn't open yet at the time