Named by George Washington and launched on September 20, 1797, the USS Constitution is currently the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat.
The USS Constitution has been a part of national identity since its creation. Paul Revere fashioned the copper bolts and and later the copper sheeting that adorned its sides (which helped earn the nickname "Old Ironsides").
The ship saw battle against the Barbary pirates of Algeria, a moment that was later reworked into the "Marine's Hymn" ("...to the shores of Tripoli").
The Constitution saw action in the War of 1812, the Civil War, and several other battles. Today, it is a destination on the Boston Freedom Trail.
