The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat in the world today. HMS Victory is the old commissioned warship in the world, but she is in dry dock. In 1797 George Washington named the ship for the Constitution of the United States.

A list of her early battles reads like the early history of the US Navy, the Quasi War with France, the First Barbary War, and the War of 1812. During the War of 1812 she took part in two notable fights with Royal navy warships.

August 1812 Constitution was heading fro a raid on British merchant shipping when it stopped an American Privateer. The captain told Captain Hull that he had just run away from a British frigate. The British ship in question was HMS Guerriere. She had escorted a convoy safely to its destination and was heading to Halifax for refit. Earlier in the month Guerriere missed a shot at boxing in Constitution mistaking her for a hospital ship. This time it was a one on one encounter. As the battle progressed, Hull held his fire until the range closed. Cannon balls from Guerriere bounced off the hull. British sailors were heard to say “Huzzah! her sides are made of iron!" Constitution ended to day by winning the fight. Captain Dancer of Guerriere was taken onboard Constitution where he offered his sword to Hull. Hull refused to accept the sword from a captain whose ship had fought such a gallant battle.

Soon afterward Constitution was back at sea with another Captain, William Bainbridge. On December 29, 1812 she met up with HMS Java and the battle was joined. Java seriously hurt Constitution with cannon fire to her rigging and eventually shot away her helm as well. Bainbridge, who was wounded twice, ordered the ship steered manually by the tiller. Both ships continued to fight until both ships separated for hasty repairs. After an hour Constitution closed in on Java and her first officer struck her colors. As a result of this battle the Admiralty issued an order for all Royal Navy frigates to avoid American Frigates in one on one combat. Only ships of the line or a squadron could attack an American frigate.

Constitution continued to have successes during the war. Her battles are ranked among some of the greatest of all times. The nickname she earned during the fight with Guerriere, “Old Ironsides” still stands today as a proud testament to her crews and builders. She had been used over the years for different uses. She has been commissioned, refit, and decommissioned many times. In 1900 Constitution was officially listed as a museum ship and rebuilt to her originally configuration. She is currently staffed by sailors and officers from the Navies ceremonial guard. She is still a commissioned warship in the US Navy.

She is a symbol of strength, determination, and resolve. Her crew stands ready to sail her when called and to educate the public on the strength of the Navy in peace and in war.