This wood is a piece of the actual hull from the USS Constitution. It was acquired from the USS Constitution Museum during the 1974 restorations. This exhibit represents a living piece of maritime history from the most famous and oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world.
In 1794 The CONSTITUTION construction began. The ship was being built to defend the young American nation. The ship is nearly as old as the historic document for which President Washington names her. Both the document and the ship have proven to be resilient symbols of America's strength, courage, and liberty.
Built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard, in Boston, her construction team was made up of superintendent Capt. Samuel Nicholson, chief constructor Col. George Claghorne, and naval agent Gen. Henry Jackson. Made from approximately 2,000 trees (with specialty woods obtained from Maine to Georgia), armed with cannons cast in Rhode Island, and fitted with copper fastenings provided by the famous Boston smith Paul Revere, the vessel was truly a "national" ship. Launched on October 21, 1797, she doesn't put to sea until 1798. But, having remained part of the U.S. Navy since her launching day, the CONSTITUTION is today the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world.
