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USS Constitution Sightseeing & Boat Tour | Boston Harbor Cruises

Uss constitution cruise, cruise route, photo gallery.

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boston war ship tour

Wooden Ship, Ironside

“Old Ironsides” was one of the first ships commissioned by the US Navy. She no longer fires her cannons in battle, but she will spark your imagination on this 45-minute tour. You’ll also have the option to disembark at the Charlestown Navy Yard for a tour of the famous ship and accompanying Naval Museum. Other highlights of the tour include the Bunker Hill Monument, the site of The Boston Tea Party, and the Old North Church.

bhc_constitution

USS Constitution Cruise Schedule and Rates

Rates and schedules are subject to change. Tickets are non-refundable.

Waterfront & Center

1 Long Wharf, Boston, MA 02110

The adventure begins at Long Wharf, just steps from the New England Aquarium, the North End, Faneuil Hall and other popular Boston landmarks.

Harbor Cruise FAQs

Do you recommend advance reservations.

We strongly recommend that you reserve your trip, especially on weekends and holidays. Trips often sell out.

Can I make a ticket reservation online?

Yes. Click  here  to reserve your tickets online.

What happens if I've reserved tickets but can't make it for the cruise?

Advance-order tickets are non-refundable. But, they may be transferred to another day and time depending on availability. Transfers cannot be handled online, only over the phone or in person at BHC ticketing location.

Is there food on board?

Our galleys offer a terrific selection of breakfast and lunch sandwiches, tasty snacks such as hot pretzels, popcorn and chips, nutritional bars, fresh fruit, nuts and cereals. Fruit juices, tea, sports drinks and other beverages are also available along with beer, wine and cocktails. Please Note: at sea, credit/debit card transactions are sometimes not possible, so it’s a good idea to have cash on hand.

Can I buy a cruise in combination with other attractions?

Yes, The Historic Sightseeing Cruise is a CityPASS attraction.  If space allows, CityPass holders may choose to take a USS Constitution Cruise or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise in lieu of the Historic Sightseeing Cruise.  Save 45% on admission to Boston’s top 4 attractions including the cruise – your best sightseeing value!   Buy CityPASS online  for instant, paperless mobile delivery.   LEARN MORE. 

Do you offer discounts for large groups?

We do have discounted group rates for parties of 25 or more. Please see our  Group Tours  section for more information

Do you offer private charters?

We do have yachts and passenger vessels available to be chartered for private events on Boston Harbor.  Please email our  Sales Team  for more information.

Are gift cards available?

Yes. You may purchase gift cards online, over the phone or in-person at our ticket booths. Or use the information on our contact page to call or email us and we’ll get right back to you.

For any other questions, please contact us directly at  [email protected]

or Call 617-227-4321 or 1-877-SEE-WHALE (733-9425)

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USS Constitution Museum

For over a century, Boston has celebrated #EvacuationDay , commemorating the evacuation of British forces from the city following its siege early in the Revolutionary War. General George Washington ordered the construction of fortifications at Dorchester Heights, an elevated position just outside of Boston. Realizing Boston was indefensible to this position, the British evacuated the town on March 17, and the siege came to an end. The historically held event will be held in South Boston this year, on Friday Mar 15, due to renovation at the Dorchester Heights Monument. Our Charlestown Navy Yard partner, Boston National Historical Park and South Boston Citizens Association will host the annual commemoration at 10 am at the Boys & Girls Club of Boston’s Edgerley Family South Boston Club. The program includes remarks from national, state, and local elected officials, followed by a wreath-laying in Thomas Park. It is free and open to the public. 📷 Map of Boston in 1775 shows the position of Dorchester Heights in the lower right. Courtesy: Library of Congress. ... See More See Less

boston war ship tour

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The invention of photography forever changed how we see and visually represent ourselves. This video gives us a portrait of Susan Bainbridge, wife of William, Commander of USS Constitution . Her daguerreotype provides a means to explore an interesting connection between portraits and photography. bit.ly/49VCyeQ #WHM #WomensHistoryMonth #boston ... See More See Less

Video image

This photo is from a seafarer at Ijmuiden, a port city in North Holland, during a monthly rescue boat ride. It is one of a series by seafarers in a competition by ITF Seafarers Trust to raise the profile of the people powering the global trade by sea. 🌊 🚤 📸 © Junel De Lima, ’Monthly Ride,’ ITF Seafarers’ Trust Life at Sea Photo Competition ... See More See Less

boston war ship tour

Are you a member of the Boy Scouts of America or a Girl Scout ? Join us for Scout Day on April 14th and receive a special USS Constitution Museum Scout Day patch! Learn about life at sea in 1812 and in the Navy today through fun activities. Explore the Museum and USS Constitution as you stop at different activity stations throughout the Navy Yard. Bring the whole troop and your family, too! ⚜️ ⚓ Details and registration: bit.ly/3InHXPK ... See More See Less

boston war ship tour

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USS Constitution and Museum

boston uss constitution

The USS Constitution

Launched in 1797, the USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat. Crisscrossing the globe, this three-masted frigate participated in the Barbary War off the coast of North Africa and sailed the Caribbean in search of pirates. She earned her nom de guerre Old Ironsides during the War of 1812 when enemy cannonballs bounced off her resilient wooden hull. Docked in the Charlestown Navy Yard, the famous ship is a floating museum open to public. It is also a stop on the on the Freedom Trail and the Old Town Trolley.

Admissions

“Old Ironsides”

Named by George Washington in honor of one of the nation’s founding documents, the USS Constitution is one of the six original frigates authorized by the Naval Act of 1794. While six were authorized, only three were completed. The ship was designed by Joshua Humphreys and built by Edmund Hartt’s Boston shipyard. Her hull is a layer of live and white oak. Paul Revere made the ship’s copper fastenings.

Military Service

The USS Constitution first saw action during the Quasi-War with France and then off the coast of Africa against the Barbary Pirates. It was during the War of 1812 that her legend was born. In addition to capturing numerous merchant ships, the Constitution defeated five British warships. Her most famous sea battle was against the HMS Guerriere off the coast of Nova Scotia in August 1812. During the battle, when a British cannonball bounced off the hull, a Constitution crewmember shouted, “Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron.” As news of the victory spread, the moniker Old Ironsides was born.

After the war, the Constitution would see service with the U.S. Navy’s Mediterranean Squadron, sail around the world in 1843 and conduct anti-slavery operations as part of the African Squadron. She was often the flagship of the assembled naval force. Built at a time when wooden sailing vessel lasted only 10 to 15 years, the Constitution was saved from the scrap yard when public opinion was galvanized to save the ship in 1830 by the publication of the Oliver Wendell Holmes poem “Old Ironsides.” When the Civil War broke out, the USS Constitution was used as a training ship for the U.S. Naval Academy, which had relocated to Newport, Rhode Island. In 1873, the Navy decided that the ship would once again be overhauled to take part in the country’s centennial celebration. Although still in dry dock during the celebration, the USS Constitution would carry valuable artwork to France for the Paris Exhibition of 1878. She was deemed unfit for service three years later.

Museum Ship

In 1896, Old Ironsides was towed to the Charlestown Navy Yard for her centennial celebration. Over the course of the next several years, different proposals were discussed, including returning the ship to active service, designating her as a museum and using the ship for target practice. When news of the last suggestion spread, a storm of public protest forced Congress to restore the ship. She began to serve as a museum ship in 1907. Sponsored by the Elks Lodge, a public campaign was initiated that encouraged schoolchildren to donate pennies to help refurbish the ship in 1925. The campaign raised more than $600,000. Congress appropriated the rest of the money needed to save the historic vessel.

To ensure proper maintenance, President Franklin Roosevelt ordered the Navy to place the Constitution on permanent commissioned status in 1940. The ship has undergone several restorations since then, including one in 1995 that enabled her to sail under wind power for her bicentennial celebration. It was the first time in over 100 years that the legendary ship traveled under sail. After another penny donation campaign, schoolchildren once again raised funds for the sails required to outfit the Constitution in battle configuration. In 2003, she was used as the model for the fictional French Frigate Acheron in the movie “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.” With the retirement of the USS Simpson in 2015, Old Ironsides became the only U.S. Navy ship still in service that has sunk an enemy warship.

The USS Constitution is berthed at Pier One in the Charlestown Navy Yard. During public tours led by her active duty crew, visitors can take photos at the wheel. Old Ironsides makes one “turnaround cruise” each year. The ship is towed into Boston Harbor where she performs underway demonstrations and fires a gun salute. She is then reberthed in the opposite direction to ensure that the ship weathers evenly. A lottery is used to pick individuals who will be allowed to sail on the vessel during the cruise.

USS Constitution Museum

Housed in a historic Navy Yard Building 22 just a few yards away from the legendary sailing ship, the USS Constitution Museum brings history to life. It features a variety of interactive exhibits that chronicle the 200-year career of this iconic warship. The displays include how the ship was built as well as how sailors lived, worked and ate while at sea. Building 22 was known as the “Engine House.” It formerly contained the steam-powered pumps that were used to drain the historic nearby Dry Dock 1. Opening in 1833, it is the second-oldest dry dock in the country.

USS Cassin Young

Named for Captain Cassin Young who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the attack on Pearl Harbor, the USS Cassin Young (DD – 793) is docked adjacent to Old Ironsides. Built in 1943, she was. The ship served during World War II and the Korean War. The destroyer saw action off Tinian, the island the Enola Gay took off from to drop the first atomic bomb, as well as Okinawa and Iwo Jima. One of only four Fletcher-class destroyers still afloat, she was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

Know Before You Go

While Boston attracts visitors year-round, the most popular times are from April to October. The warm weather brings numerous tourists as well as students on field trips to the city. Pack cold weather gear if you plan to travel to Boston in the off-season because winter weather can bring snow and temperatures that reach below freezing.

The museum and ship are operated separately. You will pass through a security checkpoint before boarding the warship. Visitors over 18 must show a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. Avoid carrying objects that could set off the metal detector. You may only access the vessel during a guided tour. The ship is closed on Mondays and major holidays.

You can take the subway, known locally as the “T,” to reach the Charlestown Navy Yard. The closest stops are Bunker Hill Community College on the Orange Line and North Station on the Green Line. Rather than travel underground and miss many of Boston’s historic attractions , ride the Old Town Trolley. Let America’s Storyteller entertain you with a unique and informative narration about many of the city’s historic landmarks while you travel to the USS Constitution. Hop off the trolley and tour the museum ship at your own pace. When you are ready, you can climb aboard the next passing trolley. Because Old Town Trolley has the largest fleet in the “Cradle of Liberty,” a trolley comes by every few minutes. The trolley also eliminates the hassles of trying to navigate Boston’s crowded streets and finding a place to park.

Nearby Attractions

Bunker hill community college.

A short distance from the Navy Yard, Bunker Hill Community College was featured in the hit movie “Good Will Hunting.” It was the school where the Robin Williams’ character Dr. Sean Maguire taught psychology. There are several other attractions within a short distance of Old Ironsides.

Warren Tavern Pub

Established in 1780, Warren Tavern is the oldest pub in Massachusetts. Many Founding Fathers, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Paul Revere, frequented this historic watering hole. It was one of the first structures built after the British sacked Charlestown following the Battle of Bunker Hill. Serving a diverse menu, the tavern is open to the public.

Bunker Hill Monument and Museum

Completed in 1843, the Bunker Hill Monument and Museum sits atop the site occupied by the American defense line during the famous 1775 engagement. The funds necessary to finish the obelisk were acquired with the help of Sarah Josepha Hale, the author of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” The museum relates the story of the battle and the history of the monument. An exhibit lodge contains a diorama of the battle and a statue dedicated to the fallen patriot Dr. Joseph Warren who sent Paul Revere and William Dawes on their legendary midnight ride.

St. Mary’s Church

The historic St. Mary’s Church is the work of the celebrated Irish-American architect Patrick Keely. The cornerstone was laid in 1887. The house of worship features ornate stained glass windows by Franz Mayer and Company as well as a hammerbeam oak ceiling with angelic figures carved by the architect. The original organ and the brass light fixtures date from the early 1890s.

City Square

Situated at the intersection of North Washington and Chelsea streets, City Square adorns the spot where Charlestown was first founded. The park contains an outline of the foundation of the home built by John Winthrop, the first governor of Massachusetts. The recreation area also includes a fountain and a World War II memorial along with benches, a range of plantings and bronze sculptural design elements. The park hosts outdoor movies during the summer.

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Tour Revolutionary Boston in One Day

boston war ship tour

Founded in the 1630s by Puritan settlers from England, Boston, Massachusetts is one of the oldest cities in the United States, and has played an integral role in America’s history. Boston Harbor's location on the Atlantic Ocean made the city a key point in Colonial trade routes with the West Indies, which helped Boston grow into a center of commerce and a variety of crafts.

Today, visitors to Boston can tour the sites of the most important events in American history, including the site of the Boston Massacre, the Old South Meeting House, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere's House, the Old North Church, and the site of the battle and Bunker Hill. The sites of the battles of Lexington and Concord are nearby, as well.

Stop #1: The Old State House and the site of the Boston Massacre

Time: 30 minutes – 1 hour

Details: http://www.bostonhistory.org/hours-and-admission/

Built in 1713 on the site of Boston’s Town House, the Old State House is one of the oldest public buildings in Boston. During the Colonial era, the Old State House served as the seat of the Royal Government in Boston, the meeting place of the Massachusetts Assembly, and the home of the Massachusetts Court system. Famous Patriots and members of the Massachusetts legislature, like James Otis, John Adams, and his cousin Samuel Adams, all took part in the debates and discussions that occurred in the Old State House. The Old State House was also the site of the Boston Massacre. In 1770, an angry mob confronted a unit of British Troops in front of the Old State House. The troops fired on the colonists in a panic, killing five rioters, and wounding several more. Though most of the troops were acquitted of murder charges, the Boston Massacre was one of the first major ruptures between Britain and the colonies.

What to do:

Start on the first floor.

  • Pay the admission fee .
  • Check to see if there are any special events, programs, or tours available on the day of your visit, including the daily special tour at 3:00pm.
  • Tour the exhibits inside the Museum. The Old State House Museum hosts frequent lectures on a variety of historical topics. Plan your visit ahead of time to see if you can attend any talks or tours !

Don’t miss:

  • The Council Chamber – This chamber, originally part of the Boston Town House, provided the meeting place for the Royal Governor and his council members.
  • Revolutionary Artifacts – The Old State House has a fantastic collection of artifacts from the 17th and 18th centuries, including furniture, clothes, and manuscripts.
  • The Old State House Balcony – This balcony was the platform from which officials read proclamations prior to the Revolutionary War, and thus bore witness to many historical events in the city, including the announcement and reading of the Declaration of Independence to the city in 1776. The Boston Massacre occurred directly beneath the balcony of the Old State House in 1770.
  • The Boston Massacre Marker – The Boston Massacre of March 5, 1770 occurred in the square located beneath the Old State House balcony. Today, visitors can see a cobblestone marker commemorating this momentous event in the history of the American Revolution.

Insider Tip: Don’t miss America’s oldest restaurant. The Union Oyster House is just down the street from the Old State House and Faneuil Hall. The unique and massive restaurant is a must stop for any history or seafood lover.

boston war ship tour

Stop #2: Old South Meeting House

Details: http://www.oldsouthmeetinghouse.org/

The Old South Meeting House was one of the main sites of the debates and discussions that led to the American Revolution. Built as a Puritan Meeting House in 1729, the Old South Meeting Hall was one of the largest buildings in Colonial Boston. The Boston Tea Party was initiated after more than 5,000 colonists moved from the overcrowded assembly room at Faneuil Hall to the Old South Meeting House, where they decided to protest the Tea Act of 1773 by dumping tea from the East India Company into Boston Harbor on December 16, 1773.

Enter the museum on the main floor.

  • Check for any special events, programs, or tours .
  • The Voices of Protest Exhibit – This exhibit includes information on tea and the origins of America’s most famous protests, as well as a 3D model of Boston in the Colonial era.
  • Revolutionary Artifacts – The Old South Meeting House is home to important artifacts from the Revolutionary era, including John Hancock’s writing desk, a first edition of African American author and poet Phillis Wheatley’s 1773 book, and more.
  • Exhibit Scavenger Hunts – Admission to the Old South Meeting House includes access to a variety of scavenger hunts that can help add even more excitement to learning about this historic building’s past and the role it played in the events leading up to the American Revolution.
  • Free Audio Program – Bring your smartphone with you so you can participate in a special audio program called “If these walls could speak,” that will help you listen to the debates about the Boston Tea Party that took place in the Old South Meeting House.

If you have time: 

  • Birthplace of Benjamin Franklin  – The site at which Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, is just across Milk Street from the Old South Meeting House, so if you have time, you can pop across the road to see it!

Insider tip: If you're looking for a bite to eat, Sam LaGrassa's is a local favorite with great sandwiches (they claim they're the World's No. 1, in fact!). It's only a few blocks away from the Old South Meeting House, and it's only open Monday-Friday from 11:00am-3:30pm, so be sure to catch it while you can!

Another Insider tip: Check the Old South Meeting House’s calendar of events ahead of time to see if you can attend any of their Public Events and Programs during your visit.

Stop #3: Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum

Time: 1-1.5 hours

Details: https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/museum

In May of 1773, the British Parliament passed the Tea Act to save the failing East India Company. In an effort to protest the Tea Act, Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty led colonists in an event that has become known as the Boston Tea Party. On the night of December 16 , 1773, a group of colonists marched from the Old South Meeting House to Boston Harbor, where three ships carrying East India Company Tea were docked. Dressed as Native Americans, the mob boarded the ships and succeeded in throwing 342 chests of tea overboard. As a result, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts, called the Intolerable Acts by the Patriots, which effectively closed the ports in Boston Harbor in retribution for the actions. The Boston Tea Party was amongst some of the most important incidents that propelled the American colonies towards war with Great Britain. At the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, visitors can immerse themselves in the excitement of the night of December 16, 1773 by boarding reproductions of the tea ships, viewing artifacts from the event, and even throwing some tea into Boston Harbor. 

  • Purchase tickets .
  • Take the hour-long, fully immersive tour of the ships and museum with an 18 th century guide.

Don’t Miss:

  • The Eleanor and The Beaver – These two ships are authentically restored tea vessels from which you get to throw tea into the harbor as a part of the museum’s immersive experience.
  • Museum Reenactment – You will get to meet reenactors portraying figures from the Boston Tea Party, as well as 3D hologram reenactors who help bring this historic event to life.
  • Artifacts – In addition to the reenactment, you can view artifacts from the Boston Tea Party, including the Robinson Tea Chest, one of the only surviving remnants of the 1773 event.
  • “Let It Begin Here” – This award-winning film teaches visitors about the events that brought about the American Revolution.

Insider tip: For a small discount, you can book your tickets online ! 

Stop #4: Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market

Details:  https://www.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/fh.htm

Built by Peter Faneuil in 1742 as a central marketplace for the growing town of Boston, Faneuil Hall has long been at the heart of America’s struggle for Independence. In addition to official town meetings, the assembly room on the second floor of Faneuil Hall hosted the meetings of concerned colonists, whose ideas about freedom would lay the groundwork for the American Revolution. Patriots and Sons of Liberty like Samuel Adams and James Otis gave speeches in Faneuil Hall to protest the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, and other British legislation that they believed oppressed the colonists. Known as the “Cradle of Liberty,” Faneuil Hall was the center of some of the earliest discussions, debates, and protests about American rights.

Start at the Faneuil Hall Visitor Center.

  • Check to see if there are any Ranger talks while you are visiting.
  • Explore the marketplace on the ground floor before heading upstairs to the meeting hall.
  • Once you’re finished at Faneuil Hall, cross Dock Square to Quincy Market.
  • The Great Hall – This upstairs assembly hall was an important center of discussion and debate about government and liberty in the American colonies.
  • Historic Paintings – Be sure to see the portraits of George Washington and other Patriots that hang inside the meeting hall, as well as George P.A. Healy’s famous painting, Webster’s Reply to Hayne, which hangs at the center of the hall.
  • Grasshopper Weathervane – When you’re in front of the hall, be sure to look up to the top of the structure to see the gilded Grasshopper weathervane that has rested on the building’s roof for more than 250 years.
  • Quincy Market – Located just across Dock Square from Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market is one of three granite buildings that make up the Faneuil Hall Marketplace. The City of Boston offers free weekly tours of the historic marketplace, so be sure to check their website for more information.

If you have time:

  • Visit the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company Museum on Faneuil Hall’s 4 th floor.
  • There is also a statue commemorating Sam Adams behind Faneuil Hall, so be sure to take a look! 

Insider tip: In addition to its history, Quincy Market is also a great stop for a variety of shopping and dining options! Check out this list of eateries in the Market for some suggestions.  Regina Pizzeria is one local favorite, with another location (the original) in the North End ! 

Stop #5: Paul Revere House

Time: 30 minutes

Details:  https://www.paulreverehouse.org/

Paul Revere was born in Boston on January 1, 1735. He was trained by his father as a silversmith and took over the family business sometime after his father's death in 1754. Though he was a successful silversmith and engraver, Revere is perhaps better known for the famed "Midnight Ride," in which he warned Boston and the surrounding areas that the British were on their way. Today, visitors can tour the house in which Revere lived with his family at the time of the Midnight Ride in April of 1775. Dating back to 1680, the structure was home to the Revere family from 1770 to 1780. The Paul Revere House is located along the Freedom Trail in Boston’s historic North End. One of the oldest and most densely populated residential districts in Boston, the North End is home to many historic sites that date back to the 17 th and 18 th centuries. 

Continue along the Freedom Trail from Faneuil Hall, and follow it to the Paul Revere House.

  • Start your visit by checking in at the admissions booth to pay the entrance fee .
  • Tour the House and its exhibits.
  • Inquire about tours and any special events. Check out the House’s website for more information!

Insider tip: If you are looking for a sweet snack, Mike's Pastry is a North End classic that is beloved for its cannolis, cookies, and other excellent baked goods. It's located on Hanover Street , just one block off of the Freedom Trail and one block behind the Paul Revere House...which makes for a perfect stop before or after seeing the home of America's favorite Midnight Rider! 

Stop #6: The Old North Church

Time: 30 minutes - 1 hour

Details:  http://oldnorth.com/plan-a-visit/

The Old North Church, originally called Christ Church, was constructed in Boston’s North End in 1723 as an Anglican place of worship. On April 18, 1775, Robert Newman and John Pulling displayed two lanterns in the bell tower windows, signaling that the British were crossing the Charles River towards Lexington and Concord. Though the Old North Church would become linked to Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride and the beginning of the American Revolution, the parish itself included many loyalists.

Continue along the Freedom Trail from the Paul Revere House to the Old North Church.

  • Pay the admission fee or suggested donation .
  • Check at the gift shop or guided kiosk about taking a guided tour .

Don't miss:

  • Historic Pews – Inside the Old North Church, you can see the pews where prominent Bostonians sat during church services at the time of the Revolution.
  • The Bell Ringing Chamber and Crypt – See the tower in which the famous “two if by sea” lanterns were hung to alert Bostonians of a British invasion, as well as artifacts in the Old North Church’s crypt. NOTE: To see these parts of the Old North Church, you must take one of the guided tours !
  • Paul Revere Monument – Located just behind the Old North Church on the Paul Revere Mall is an equestrian statue commemorating Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride. 

Stop #7: Copp’s Hill Burying Grounds

Details:  https://www.boston.gov/cemetaries/copps-hill-burying-ground

Copp’s Hill Burying Ground is one of the oldest and largest colonial cemeteries, dating back to 1659. Named after Boston shoemaker William Copp, the cemetery was the final resting place more than 10,000 North End residents of the 17 th and 18 th centuries. During the Revolutionary War, the British Army utilized the hill for a battery during the Battle of Bunker Hill.

What to do: 

Continue on the Freedom Trail from the Old North Church to Copp's Hill Burying Grounds.

Some of the cemetery’s noteworthy burials include Robert Newman, who helped position the signal lamps in the Old North Church, Edmund Hartt, who built the USS Constitution, and Prince Hall, a freedman who fought in the Revolutionary War and established the first Black Masonic Lodge. You can learn more about the cemetery’s history and plan your visit at this website .  

Stop # 8: Bunker Hill

Time: 2 hours

Details:  https://www.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/bhm.htm

Bunker Hill marks the first major battle in the American Revolution. While British troops occupied the city of Boston, the American rebels positioned themselves across the Charles River on the summit of Bunker Hill, and prepared fortifications on nearby Breed’s Hill. British troops, commanded by Thomas Gage, advanced against their opponents’ position three times before the Americans ran out of ammunition, and the Redcoats were finally able to take the hill. It was during the Battle of Bunker Hill that the American Colonel, William Prescott allegedly instructed his men to “not fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” Though the British had won a tactical victory, they suffered 1,054 casualties, which was more than twice the number of American dead and wounded. The Americans retreated into nearby Cambridge, but continued to lay siege to Boston with new morale after their stand against the British at Bunker Hill. Today, visitors can walk on the grounds of the battle, view exhibits in the Bunker Hill Museum to learn more about the engagement, and view the Bunker Hill Monument. 

Start at the Bunker Hill Grounds.

  • Visit the Bunker Hill Museum to learn more about the battle’s history.
  • Check in at the Bunker Hill Lodge to see if the Bunker Hill Monument is open for climbing.
  • Bunker Hill Museum  Exhibits – The Bunker Hill Museum, located just across the street from the Bunker Hill Grounds, houses exhibits on the battle, the Charlestown neighborhood, and Bunker Hill’s memorialization.
  • Bunker Hill Monument – Completed in 1842, the Bunker Hill Monument took the form of granite obelisk memorializing the early Revolutionary efforts at Bunker Hill. Visitors can climb to the top of the monument, which offers a great view of the city of Boston, located just across the Charles River to the South. Visit the Bunker Hill Lodge to inquire about making the climb to the top.
  • Statue of Dr. Joseph Warren – A Son of Liberty and Patriot leader, Dr. Joseph Warren was commissioned as a major general in the Massachusetts militia shortly before the Battle of Bunker Hill, during which he was killed in combat.  
  • USS Constitution  – First launched in 1797, this frigate was an early addition to the U.S. Navy and is one of the oldest commissioned warships in the world. The USS  Constitution, also known as "Old Ironsides," saw action in the War of 1812. The USS Constitution  has since been restored, and visitors can now board the ship in Boston Harbor, where it is currently docked. 

Insider tip: If you missed Regina Pizzeria at Quincy Market, you have another chance to try it at its original location once you cross back over the Charles River into the North End!   

Before you go:

  • Print or download the Tour Map , or use our Tour Planner.
  • Watch the Revolutionary War Animated Map .
  • Watch our Boston Virtual Tour .
  • Learn more about Lexington and Concord , the Battle of Bunker Hill , and the critical beginning of the American Revolution with the Northern Campaign Animated Map .

Insider tip for planning: Explore the Freedom Trail while planning your trip to Boston. This 2.5 mile trail takes visitors on a walking tour of some of America’s most important Revolutionary-era sites. Several of this itinerary’s stops are located along the Freedom Trail, so we recommend taking this route between sites when you can to make the most of your experience in Boston!

Newport, Rhode Island

Make Some History This Weekend in Newport

An aerial view of Parker's Ferry in Charleston County, S.C.

Spend a Weekend in Francis Marion’s South Carolina Lowcountry

An aerial view of Fort Ticonderoga and Lake Champlain

Make Some History This Weekend at Fort Ticonderoga and the Adirondacks

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Local News | USS Truxtun stops in Boston for weekend visit

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The destroyer USS Truxton docks at Black Falcon terminal. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

It’s hard to miss the USS Truxtun, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer now tied up at Black Falcon Terminal for a weekend visit.

The public is invited to tour the Truxtun from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, immersing themselves in its maritime history and heritage. She was named for Commodore Thomas Truxtun, one of the first six Navy commanders appointed by George Washington, and was an active participant in the Mexican–American War.

Boston, MA - Joyce DiCicco hugs her son, ENS Andres...

Boston, MA - Joyce DiCicco hugs her son, ENS Andres Loder, after he brought the destroyer USS Truxton to the dock at Black Falcon terminal. Looking on is Loder’s aunt, Joanne Danilchuk.(Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

Boston, MA - CDR Chance Smith, Commanding Officer of the...

Boston, MA - CDR Chance Smith, Commanding Officer of the destroyer USS Truxton speaks after the ship docked at Black Falcon terminal. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

Boston, MA - Joanne Danilchuk, whose nephew ENS Andrew Loder...

Boston, MA - Joanne Danilchuk, whose nephew ENS Andrew Loder was bringing the ship in, takes a photo as the destroyer USS Truxton docks at Black Falcon terminal. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

Boston, MA - Marjorie Loder, Joyce DiCicco, Joanne and David...

Boston, MA - Marjorie Loder, Joyce DiCicco, Joanne and David Danilchuk, whose family member ENS Andrew Loder was bringing the ship in, watch as the destroyer USS Truxton docks at Black Falcon terminal. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

Boston, MA - ENS Andres Loder, hugs his wife, Majorie,...

Boston, MA - ENS Andres Loder, hugs his wife, Majorie, as his mother and aunt look on after he brought the destroyer USS Truxton into the dock at Black Falcon terminal. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

Boston, MA - Joyce DiCicco hugs her son, ENS Andres...

Boston, MA - Joyce DiCicco hugs her son, ENS Andres Loder, after he brought the destroyer USS Truxton to the dock at Black Falcon terminal. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

Boston, MA - Sailors line the ship as the destroyer...

Boston, MA - Sailors line the ship as the destroyer USS Truxton docks at Black Falcon terminal. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

The destroyer USS Truxton docks at Black Falcon terminal. (Nancy...

The destroyer USS Truxton docks at Black Falcon terminal. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

ENS Andrew Loder, Lt. Meghan Brooks, Lt. Cmdr David Carter, CDR Chance Smith, Truxton Commanding Officer and Cmdr Billie Farrell, of the USS Constitution, walk past the destroyer USS Truxton after docking at Black Falcon terminal. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

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WWII sites in Boston, Massachusetts: WWII museums, World War II memorials, and more

WWII Sites in Boston: Museums, Memorials, Forts, and More

Last Updated: November 25, 2023 //  by  Ashley Smith 2 Comments

Of course there’s a healthy number of WWII sites in Boston, Massachusetts. This is a city famous for military history, if nothing else. Okay so maybe we’re talking about the American Revolution here, but that doesn’t change the fact that Boston has battle in its blood.

Though today it’s home to a number of WWII museums and memorials, Boston actually played a significant role during World War II itself. During that time:

  • The Boston Navy Yard became the designated production site for destroyer ships . This led to the Navy Yard’s busiest ship production period in history.
  • The Boston Navy Yard became the spot to go for repairs of all kinds.
  • The U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps utilized the Harbor Defenses of Boston —a network of defensive island forts used from 1895 to 1950.
  • Some of these defensive forts served as POW camps .

For more on the Boston Navy Yard’s WWII history , click on that article from the National Park Service. It’s extensive and really interesting.

Table of Contents

A revolutionary war soldier / WWII sites in Boston, Massachusetts

WWII sites in Boston

The WWII histories of both the Boston Navy Yard and the Harbor Defense program are still visible today. These offer some great WWII sites in Boston for you to visit on your next bounce through Beantown.

Boston is also home to a handful of interesting WWII museums and memorials around town, in addition to these important historical sites. This whole list of WWII sites in Boston is located in and around the downtown area. Even if you have to take a boat to get there.

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Wwii museums in boston.

While most of the larger WWII museums near Boston are located farther out in suburban Massachusetts, there are still a couple of great ones here in town.

For all the other museums, monuments, memorials, and more in the rest of the state, click here for my guide to WWII sites in Massachusetts .

USS Cassin Young

Located at the historic Boston Navy Yard is the USS Cassin Young , a Fletcher -class destroyer. The USS Cassin Young was actually built in San Pedro, California in 1943. Though not built at the Boston Navy Yard, they’ve docked the USS Cassin Young  here to represent the kinds of ships produced at this facility during World War II.

USS Cassin Young, WWII battleship located in Boston, Massachusetts (Charlestown Navy Yard), WWII sites in Boston

The USS Cassin Young fought in seven Pacific battles of WWII , including the Battle of Okinawa, and survived two Kamikaze strikes. Today, she remains one of only four Fletcher -class destroyers left in existence. This ship has a full and interesting history you can read about here .

They named her after Captain Cassin Young who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was killed in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal a year later.

You can tour the upper deck of the ship yourself or head below deck on a guided tour offered by the National Park Service. (Museum ships are the best kind of museums !)

USS Cassin Young destroyer, boston | 8 Reasons U.S. Battleship Museums are the Best Museums | USS Massachusetts, Battleship Cove, Fall River, Massachusetts

You can find it just across from the USS Constitution , one of the six original ships of the U.S. Navy built over 220 years ago. At this site is also the USS Constitution Museum where you can learn more about both.

Be sure to check out the USS Cassin Young app. No need to download, you can check out the Cassin Young app here . It makes a great companion for your visit or an otherwise easy way to learn more about the ship.

USS Cassin Young, WWII battleship located in Boston, Massachusetts (Charlestown Navy Yard), WWII sites in Boston

Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company Museum

On the fourth floor of famous Faneuil Hall you’ll find the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company Military Museum and Armory .

This free museum is full of historical artifacts. You can see uniforms, firearms and swords, and other relics from all military engagements from the 1600s to today. There is, indeed, a collection specifically on World War II.

Dating back to March of 1638, the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts is the oldest chartered military organization in the western hemisphere. It began as a volunteer militia company dedicated to readiness at a moment’s notice.

Today, the AHAC works with the Massachusetts ROTC and serves as the location for new military officer commissioning ceremonies.

WWII Museums in Boston, Massachusetts - Faneuil Hall - Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company Museum

WWII memorials in Boston

From a couple general war memorials to some more specific ones on a grand scale, here are what the WWII sites in Boston have to offer.

The New England Holocaust Memorial

The largest and most well-known of all WWII sites in Boston would have to be the New England Holocaust Memorial. This memorial is located near Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market on Congress Street. It’s appropriately, and deliberately, situated along the Freedom Trail .

The New England Holocaust Memorial located in downtown Boston, Massachusetts

The Holocaust Memorial opened on October 22, 1995 and is dedicated to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust . It’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The New England Holocaust Memorial features six 54’ tall glass towers. They’re lit internally from the top down and every inch of this memorial is symbolic.

These six towers represent:

  • the six million murdered Jews
  • the six years of the Final Solution
  • and the six main death camps (Belzec, Chelmno, Treblinka, Sobibor, Majdanek, and Auschwitz-Birkenau).

WWII sites in Boston, Massachusetts: WWII museums, World War II memorials, and more

Each tower is etched with millions of numbers representing the prisoners’ tattoos. They also sit atop steaming floor grates reminiscent of the camps’ gas chambers. This memorial sits in a busy area of downtown and serves as both a reminder and a pathway.

The NEHM also just released new technology for visitors. Upon arriving at the site, you can now scan a QR code that takes you on a (free) nine-stop guided tour of the memorial. Read more about the New England Holocaust Memorial here.

You might also like my posts on visiting Dachau Concentration Camp and Memorial Site outside Munich, Germany and visiting Theresienstadt concentration camp outside Prague.

The New England Holocaust Memorial located in downtown Boston, Massachusetts

Boston World War II Memorial

Over in the Back Bay Fens, an urban park in the Fenway/Kenmore area of Boston, you’ll find the Boston World War II Memorial. Situated between Fenway Park and the Museum of Fine Arts is this large memorial designed by John Francis Paramino.

The Boston World War II Memorial was completed between 1947 and 1949 . It’s made of granite and bronze and features a winged victory statue and 27 plaques listing the names of the men and women from Boston who died in the Second World War.

The memorial also features a circular garden area with plantings and benches.

Boston World War II Memorial near Fenway, Boston, Massachusetts, Back Bay Fens

General George S. Patton Statue

Located on the Esplanade between Storrow Drive and the Charles River you’ll find the General George S. Patton Statue, standing tall in front of the Hatch Memorial Shell.

Designer James Earle Fraser created this statue in 1953. It is meant to commemorate George Patton’s June 7, 1945 address. Here at the Hatch Shell he spoke to a crowd of 20,000 (including 400 wounded Third Army veterans). You can actually watch some of that speech here !

That 8’ tall statue stands on a base of pink granite inscribed with a little information on the General.

General George S. Patton Statue on the Esplanade, Boston, Massachusetts

George Patton has a long relationship with the state of Massachusetts including:

  • Marrying Beatrice Ayer, daughter of Boston industrialist Frederick Ayer in 1910
  • Serving in the General Staff Corps in Boston in 1925
  • Attending the Army War College in June 1932
  • Calling Hamilton, Massachusetts home before WWII

South Boston WWII Memorial in Boston, Massachusetts

South Boston WWII Memorial

Dedicated in 2002, the small South Boston WWII Memorial serves as a place of quiet reflection. It includes the engraved names of more than 200 soldiers from South Boston who served and died in World War II.

This memorial overlooks Boston Harbor, situated at the start of the causeway heading to Castle Island. Local artist Robert Shure sculpted this granite monument with the assistance of World War II veterans from South Boston.

South Boston WWII Memorial in Boston, Massachusetts

Other WWII sites in Boston

Besides museums and memorials, there are a few more WWII sites in Boston for you to check out.

Boston Harbor Islands

Between May and October you can ferry around the Boston Harbor Islands, formerly part of the Harbor Defenses of Boston. This was a set of coordinated defensive forts used between 1895 and 1950 by the United States Army Coast Artillery Corps.

The Boston Harbor Islands National Recreational Area is a branch of the National Park Service that includes hiking trails, beaches, lighthouses, and much more on a number of the islands.

While some of these forts date back to the Colonial period, many were retrofitted for use during World War II. The ruins of some of these abandoned structures are still visible today though many have been demolished. For example…

WWII sites in Boston, Massachusetts - abandoned war bunkers on Boston Harbor Islands

Fort Andrews

Fort Andrews served as an active artillery post and a POW camp for Italian prisoners during WWII. It takes up the entire northeast end of Peddocks Island—originally called the Peddocks Island Military Reservation.

Today, the fort stands abandoned but you can still see the deteriorated (and somewhat dangerous) concrete gun emplacements, administrative buildings, and fire control structures (used to spot enemies, not fires).

WWII sites in Boston, Massachusetts / Boston Harbor Islands: Fort Andrews on Peddocks Island

Fort Warren

Fort Warren on Georges Island is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and is located right at the entrance to Boston Harbor.

Fort Warren is a pentagonal bastion fort dating back to 1833-1861. During World War II, in anticipation of attacks by German U-boats, it served as a control center for Boston Harbor’s south mine field. They decommissioned it in the 1950s and opened it to the public in 1961.

Today, you can visit easily by ferry from downtown Boston and take guided tours or explore on your own. You can see, among other things, many of the walls, casemates, magazines, and two 40mm Bofors guns from WWII that are open to visitors.

Click here for more information on exploring the Boston Harbor Islands .

WWII sites in Boston, Massachusetts / Boston Harbor Islands: Fort Warren on Georges Island

Japanese Temple Bell

Just a two-minute walk from the Boston World War II Memorial in the Back Bay Fens you’ll see the 450-pound Japanese Temple Bell.

This bell was forged in 1675 and used in religious ceremonies at the Manpuku-ji temple in Sendai, Japan for centuries. During World War II, Japanese military removed a number of temple bells for the purpose of melting down and turning into artillery. Because of this need, almost 95% of Japan’s temple bells were destroyed.

When America invaded Japan, Navy soldiers found a stash of bells earmarked for weaponry and brought several of them back to the United States. Captain Marion Kelly of the USS Boston in retrieved one of these bells in 1946.

Over time, the U.S. has returned the majority of these bells to Japan. However, in 1953 Sendai allowed the bell to remain in Boston as a gift in the spirit of peace and friendship between the two cities.

Today, that bell sits in the Back Bay Fens on a marble block with a small descriptive plaque.

WWII memorials in Boston - Japanese Temple Bell in Back Bay Fens park

There’s also an incredibly interesting story behind the Japanese bell found among the Manhattan Project sites in Oak Ridge , Tennessee. This one represents the relationship between Japan and Oak Ridge, the American city at the origin of the atomic bomb.

Fenway Victory Gardens

Also located in the Back Bay Fens are the Fenway Victory Gardens. These are the United States’ only surviving continuously-operating World War II victory gardens. Residents planted them in 1942.

During this time there were more than 20 million victory gardens in the United States. Victory gardens like these produced nearly half of all vegetables during WWII. 

Today, the Fenway Victory Gardens contain more than 500 gardens for residents of the City of Boston. They span almost 8 acres and include gardens of residents from all parts of Boston.

On your visit to the Fenway Victory Gardens, walk the paths, check out vegetable gardens, decorative flower gardens, and much more. I particularly love this Japanese-inspired garden pictured below.

You can learn more about the Fenway Victory Gardens in this National Geographic article .

Fenway Victory Gardens in Boston, Massachusetts, one of the area's World War II-related sites

More info for visiting WWII sites in Boston

› Heading to Boston? Read reviews and book your room on Booking.com , my favorite booking site. › Check out the other World War II sites in Massachusetts too! › Don’t forget to pick up a  New England guidebook for the rest of your sightseeing. › Like this post? Have questions? Reach out on Facebook /  Twitter /  Instagram

Like this info? Save it for later! Pin it on Pinterest ⇣⇣⇣

World War II sites in Boston, Massachusetts: Museums, memorials, monuments, forts, and more / Holocaust Memorial, military museums, battleships, Boston Harbor Islands forts, victory gardens

About Ashley Smith

Ashley is a World War II historian and travel expert who has visited 32 countries. She specializes in quick trips throughout Europe and the Americas with a focus on World War II museums, memorials, battlefields, and other sites of interest. Originally from Memphis, TN, she currently lives in Boston with her husband and two feline commanders.

Visiting the American Heritage Museum: All Things Related to WWII Transportation / WWII museum / WWII tanks, WWII airplanes, WWII vehicles, and more! Hudson, Massachusetts, Collings Foundation #hudsonma #massachusetts #boston #wwiimuseum #wwiitank #wwiiplane

Reader Interactions

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June 30, 2021 at 10:17 am

What hotels would you recommend for a stay in Boston and should you rent a car? My father and I will be in Boston for four days in August and want to see as much as possible

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June 30, 2021 at 7:02 pm

Hi Dan! Awesome! First of all, I would definitely NOT recommend renting a car here. Driving in Boston is nothing short of a nightmare if you’re not from here and you can get just about anywhere you want to go via the train, bus, taxi, walking, or Uber.

Which hotels to recommend would depend on which part of the city you wanted to stay in… but my favorite part of Boston is the Seaport / Fort Point. Check out the Aloft Hotel , the Yotel Boston , and the Residence Inn at the Seaport for great options. Copley Plaza is also a great place to stay and the Fairmont Copley Plaza is a popular hotel there. I hope that gives you at least a starting point! 🙂 (August is a great time to visit Boston BTW)

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Battleship Cove is open Friday-Sunday 9am-4pm and select holidays.  Tickets may be purchased online or at the museum.  The Maritime Museum is open Friday- Sunday 10am-3pm.

The USS Lionfish is currently closed for planned preservation work. 

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Battleship Cove: Who We Are

The home to five National Historic Landmarks and Official Veteran Memorials on both state and national levels, Battleship Cove has been providing the preservation of both the military heritage of the New England region and that of the United States since 1965.

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Freedom Trail® Boston

Every step tells a story.

The Freedom Trail is a unique collection of museums, churches, meeting houses, burying grounds, parks, a ship, and historic markers that tell the story of the American Revolution and beyond.

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Walk into history®.

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The Freedom Trail Foundation's most popular tour highlights the revolutionary history that took place at 11 of the 16 official Freedom Trail historic sites.

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North End Tours highlight official Freedom Trail historic sites such as Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, and Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, and other historic places in Boston’s oldest neighborhood.  

Saturdays through December 30, 1:30 pm

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All Freedom Trail tours led by 18 th -century costumed guides are excellent for families, school field trips, corporate team building, incentives, and convention activities. These tours can be customized to fit your group's schedule and are available year round. 

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The Freedom Trail is one of the iconic touristy things to do in Boston, and there's a reason for that. I did the full trail many, many years ago but decided to go with this shorter, more compact trail with our family. The 1.5 hour length is the right duration for kids, and our guide, Jeremiah Poope (his actual last name!), kept it interesting the entire time. He has been a tour guide in Boston for many years, and he had a ton of interesting stories and facts beyond the typical revolutionary war factoids.

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We had a wonderful time and your guides were wonderful. They were energetic, informed, and brought history to life. Thank you once again!

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We only had 1 day to explore downtown Boston, and this tour was a great way to see several different sites, learn about history, and get a bit of walking in. We were a few minutes late for the start of the 1pm tour but easily able to catch up and join in.. Our tour guide was fantastic! One member of my group uses a wheelchair, and the guide was great about leading the WHOLE tour through accessible entrances to sites and to sidewalks with curb cuts so that all of us could participate without feeling singled out.

Great tour with Isaiah Thomas! Great local guide who was very engaging and a walking encyclopedia of Boston history. It was a nice 1.5 hr walking tour hitting most of the south end Freedom Trail points of interest. For the money, it’s hard to beat!

The Freedom Trail Walking tour presents full of historic knowledge and our guide, Parker, provides us the best experience for this amazing learning adventure. That is to say, in this tour you can also learn about the myth and the truth of the history we learned from our textbooks. I would recommend anyone who visit Boston and is interested in learning history or simply just want to listen to funny stories

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Boston's iconic 2.5 mile-Freedom Trail connects 16 nationally significant historic sites, each one an authentic treasure. Thanks to preservation efforts, these cultural assets are still intact, which makes Boston truly unique as one of the few places in America to experience the actual sites and learn the history they tell while walking through modern city streets.

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USS Truxtun Pulls into Boston for Port Visit

USS Truxtun Arrives in Boston for Port Visit

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Emily Casavant | 240314-N-ZV473-1002 BOSTON (Mar. 14, 2020) USS Truxtun (DDG 103) arrives in Boston,... ... read more read more

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Emily Casavant | 240314-N-ZV473-1002 BOSTON (Mar. 14, 2020) USS Truxtun (DDG 103) arrives in Boston, Mar. 14, 2024 for a scheduled port visit. Truxtun was commissioned in 2009 and is named after Commodore Thomas Truxtun, who was one of the first six commanders appointed by George Washington to the newly-formed U.S. Navy. She currently serves as part of Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic (SURFLANT). SURFLANT mans, trains and equips assigned surface forces and shore activities, ensuring the capable force for conducting prompt and sustained operations in support of the United States national interests.(US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Emily Casavant)   see less | View Image Page

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Story by lt.cmdr. david carter  , commander, naval surface force atlantic.

boston war ship tour

BOSTON (Mar. 14, 2024) – The Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer, USS Truxtun (DDG 103), arrived in Boston for a scheduled port visit, Thursday, Mar. 14. The visit coincides with the city’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration and provides an opportunity to showcase the Navy’s capabilities and talent of its Sailors, with a goal of increasing awareness and understanding within the local community. “We’re excited to show our Nation’s flag and tell the Navy story,” said Cmdr. Chance Smith, Truxtun’s commanding officer. “Our Navy is doing extremely important work all around the world every day, so it’s an honor for Truxtun to be here, share that story and serve as ambassadors on behalf of our service.” A city already steeped in Navy heritage, Boston is home to the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, USS Constitution, which sits just across town from where Truxtun is moored. With both vessels in town over the weekend, visitors will have the unique opportunity to see warships reflective of both the Navy’s origins at “Old Ironsides,” or a more modern approach onboard a destroyer. The history in Boston this week isn’t limited to just ships either, as Truxtun has ten Sailors on board with ties to the Greater Boston area or surrounding parts of the Northeast. “I’m very excited to be back home and bring the Navy with me,” said Lt. Meghan Brooks, operations officer on Truxtun and Pepperell, Mass. native. “There are so many amazing things this city has to offer and I’m excited for our crew to experience it, and similarly, I’m excited for Boston to interact with the talented men and women making up our force.” The ship’s crew are scheduled to participate in a number of engagements around the city, ranging form community service projects to veteran events, and will wrap up the visit by taking part in South Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day / Evacuation Day parade. Truxtun was commissioned in 2009 and is named after Commodore Thomas Truxtun, who was one of the first six commanders appointed by George Washington to the newly-formed U.S. Navy. She currently serves as part of Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic (SURFLANT). SURFLANT mans, trains and equips assigned surface forces and shore activities, ensuring the capable force for conducting prompt and sustained operations in support of the United States national interests. More than 70 ships and 34 shore commands make up the SURFLANT force.

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A new Holocaust exhibit in Boston confronts a painful history

  • Arielle Gray

A visitor looks at a sign from Auschwitz. (Courtesy Musealia)

Nearly 80 years ago, World War II was finally coming to an end. In January of 1945, the largest Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz, was liberated by the Soviet army — around 7,000 people were freed, though many would later die due to malnutrition and other medical complications.

And liberation came too late for the 1.1 million people whose lives were claimed by Auschwitz in the years it operated.

For the first time, hundreds of Holocaust artifacts are in Boston as a part of the international exhibition, “ Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away .”

Running through Sept. 2 at Saunders Castle at Park Plaza, the exhibit explores the painful legacy of one of history’s darkest chapters.

Created by Spanish company Musealia in collaboration with Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, “Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away” comes at a time when religious and racial tensions are high. This is the first traveling exhibition on Auschwitz.

Prisoner uniform. (Courtesy Musealia)

“An exhibition this substantial and comprehensive on Auschwitz ... is unlikely to ever be assembled again,” said Luis Ferreiro, director of Musealia.

Seven years ago, he was inspired to explore the idea of an exhibit after reading "Man's Search for Meaning," a book that chronicles author Viktor Frankl's time spent in Nazi concentration camps. Frankl and his family were sent to Auschwitz.

“Listening to their stories and understanding how these events could happen is the best action we, as citizens of the world, can take against the reoccurrence of such a horrific event,” Ferreiro said.

This is the first time a collection of this size has been brought together to tell the story of the Holocaust — the exhibit features 700 artifacts from the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and over 20 other museums. Objects include materials and suitcases packed by Auschwitz deportees, a gas mask and even large portions of an original prisoner’s barrack.

“These artifacts call upon guests to prevent the dehumanization of others by building a future free from antisemitism, racism and all ideologies of hatred,” said Piotr Cywinski, director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial.

Upon entering "Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away," visitors are guided chronologically through the exhibit via an audio-tour device, starting with an exploration of how so many people bought into genocidal, anti-Semitic, racist political rhetoric.

Founded in 1919, the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, or the Nazi party, helmed by Adolf Hitler, would go on to kill an estimated six million Jewish people under the guise of restoring the German nation to its former glory. The total number of people killed throughout the Holocaust, including other minority groups and prisoners of war, is closer to 11 million.

Auschwitz was the largest of the many concentration camps established by the Nazis after the beginning of World War II. It received its first detainees in 1940 and operated for five years until 1945.

Before Soviet forces liberated Auschwitz in January, nearly 60,000 prisoners were forced on death marches. Around 15,000 people died on those marches. The war would eventually end months later in May when German forces surrendered in Berlin.

A woman's dress shoe belonging to a deportee. (Courtesy Musealia)

Divided into four parts, co-curator Paul Salmons says this exhibition "will show objects related to the perpetrators themselves... it shows the personal items of the victims and tells the stories of the individual people, the families that were torn apart, the communities that were devastated."

Items, like a bright red woman's shoe and a child's doll, bring detail to the lives of those killed at Auschwitz. They help concretize and contextualize a history that many have only experienced through history books. Other objects, like the barracks and operating table, underscore the dehumanization necessary to commit such atrocities like the ones that happened at Nazi concentration camps.

John Norman, the president of World Heritage Exhibitions who is presenting the exhibit locally, points out that “Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away" will help viewers confront the sobering reality of humanity's past. This confrontation is what raises awareness and with awareness comes the ability to choose differently in the future.

"Within the echoes of history's shadows, lies a vital truth; to remember, to learn and to honor," he said.

This is the exhibit’s New England premiere, and Boston will likely be the only East Coast stop during its 14-city tour.

A visitor looks at a collection of items. (Courtesy Musealia)

" Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away " is on view at the Castle at Park Plaza through Sept. 2.

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Arielle Gray Reporter Arielle Gray is a reporter for WBUR.

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U.S. travel alert: Do not travel to this Caribbean nation, popular spot for cruise ship stops

  • Updated: Mar. 11, 2024, 11:28 p.m. |
  • Published: Mar. 11, 2024, 8:39 a.m.

Haiti jailbreak

A demonstrator holds up a Haitian flag during protests demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Friday, March 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph) AP

The State Department is warning travelers not to go to the Caribbean nation of Haiti even as American military forces are being brought in to shore up security at the U.S. Embassy in Port-Au-Prince.

The Travel Advisory for Haiti remains at level four, meaning all travel to the country is discouraged. Other level 4 countries include Russia, Syria and Burkina Faso.

“The current security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous. We are aware that there are few or non-commercial options to depart Haiti safely at this time. As they become available, we urge U.S. citizens to take advantage of them,” the US Embassy said in a statement issued this week.

Travelers who are in Haiti are advised to avoid crowds and being outside after dark, keep a low profile and be aware of their surroundings.

Haiti is located on the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic sharing the island to the east. The Dominican Republic is under a level 2 advisory with visitors urged to exercise increased caution.

READ MORE: US issues travel warning for mega-popular spring break tourist spots

The U.S. military presence will protect the embassy and allow non-essential American personnel to leave the area, which has been taken over by violent street gangs, the AP reported.

A do-not-travel alert for Haiti was issued in July 2023 for what the State Department described as “kidnapping, crime, civil unrest and poor health care infrastructure.” Later that month, the U.S. ordered all family members of U.S. government employees and non-emergency personnel to leave the country. American government personnel have been limited to only confined areas around the Embassy and are not allowed to walk in Port-au-Prince, use any public transportation, visit banks or ATMs, drive at night or travel between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Despite the security issues, which included a mass prison break last week, cruise ship lines continue to stop in the country.

Royal Caribbean ships continue to call on Labadee, the cruise company’s property located on a peninsula about six hours drive away from Port-au-Prince, CNN reported. The area is only available to ship guests and visitors do not leave the resort. No security issues have been reported at the resort.

The company said it is monitoring the situation in Haiti.

“The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority. Our global security teams are closely monitoring the situation in the area. At all times, we remind guests to remain aware of their surroundings while ashore and follow all State Department guidelines. Should any changes be required, guests will be notified directly,” a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told CNN.

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Thing to Do

Charlestown Navy Yard: Tour USS CASSIN YOUNG (DD 793)

Boston National Historical Park

Explore above and below the main deck of USS Cassin Young (DD 793), a Fletcher-class Destroyer that served in the Second World War and throughout the 1950s. Learn how such ships were built and see how the men aboard lived, served, and made sacrifices aboard.

Visitors will be able to see various parts of the ship on the tour, including: the Combat Information Center, the Plotting Room, Officer's Country (or Berthing Area), Ammunition Handling Room, Officer's Mess, Sailors' Berthing Area, Crew Mess, the Galley, Barber shop, and the Bridge.

Tours begin on the deck of the ship and last for approximately 45 minutes. Tickets are available for FREE on a first-come, first served basis aboard the ship. Since this tour highlights small spaces, only 12 people are allowed per tour. Visitors must be over 42" in height to safely climb the ladders.

These tours have ended for the 2022 summer season. We look forward to you joining us on this tour next season!

*To learn more about the USS Cassin Young , explore the USS Cassin Young  app or visit the USS Cassin Young  page . If you have any questions, please  contact us . 

Stay tuned for information on tours during the 2023 season.

Starting July 1, tours will be offered Wednesday - Sunday, 11am and 2pm.

This tour explores above and below deck of the USS Cassin Young . Visitors must be able to use ladders to go below deck. Visitors will also be walking through tight spaces.

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  • charlestown navy yard
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  • world war ii

Last updated: January 17, 2023

See aboard the ex-supercarrier John F. Kennedy, the scene of one of the greatest military pranks of all time

  • The ex-USS John F. Kennedy was the last conventionally-powered carrier built for the Navy.
  • The aircraft carrier was also the site of one of the greatest military pranks.
  • After nearly 40 years of service, the flattop was retired and sold to scrap dealers for a cent.

Insider Today

The ex-USS John F. Kennedy, the retired first-in-class aircraft supercarrier , is headed to the scrapyard following a nearly 40-year service.

Its legacy will live on in a new supercarrier and stories of the insane prank that once happened on its decks.

First-in-class

boston war ship tour

The Kennedy was a variant of the Kitty Hawk-class carrier and designated CVA-67 for attack aircraft carrier.

After undergoing a series of modifications, the Kennedy's classification was changed to CV-67, the only ship of its class , denoting that the carrier was capable of supporting anti-submarine warfare aircraft like the S-3 Viking.

The last conventionally powered carrier built for the US Navy

boston war ship tour

It was the last conventional aircraft carrier built for the Navy, which the Navy has replaced with the nuclear-powered Nimitz- and Ford-class carriers.

The Kennedy was propelled by eight conventional boilers and four steam turbines, allowing it to reach speeds of 34 knots.

As tall as a 25-story building from keel to mast

boston war ship tour

The massive carrier measured nearly 200 feet in height and more than 1,000 feet in length — if stood on end, it would reach the 84th floor of the Empire State Building.

As wide as a World War I destroyer was long

boston war ship tour

The flight deck was as wide as a World War I destroyer was long: more than 250 feet at its widest point.

boston war ship tour

Its armament included two launchers for Sea Sparrow missiles, an automated close-in weapon system, and two Rolling Airframe Missile launchers.

boston war ship tour

After its maiden voyage to the Mediterranean, the Kennedy participated in 18 official deployments in its 38 years of service.

Notably, the warship participated in Operation Desert Storm after Carrier Air Wing 3, then aboard the Kennedy, carried out airstrikes against Iraqi forces in 1991.

During a six-month deployment supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, aircraft aboard the Kennedy directed more than 64,000 pounds of firepower at Taliban and al Qaeda targets in October 2001 following 9/11.

The greatest military prank of all time

boston war ship tour

Apart from its history-making service and features, the Kennedy also was the setting of one of the greatest military pranks of all time .

In 1986, the Kennedy was set to relieve the Kitty Hawk-class supercarrier USS America after a six-month deployment in the Mediterranean.

What was meant to be a common change of command quickly turned into a hilarious practical joke, as aviators aboard the America dropped off an unusual payload on the new arrivals: three greased pigs dyed with red, white, and blue food coloring.

Brian Christoff, an aircrewman with the HS-11 helo squadron aboard USS America, shared a video of the event in a since-deleted post on Facebook in 2023.

"We were at the end of a 6-month deployment to the Indian Ocean/Mediterranean Sea," Christoff wrote. "We were being relieved by the USS Kennedy. The fighter jet jocks got with us and came up with this slant, on an age-old tradition, of releasing a greased pig, onto the deck of the relieving ship."

"Three pigs painted with Red, White, and Blue food coloring and lathered in grease," he continued. "The Kennedy never seen it coming!"

It's #NationalPigDay ! Dating back to the early 60s, a prank played by carriers in the Mediterranean was to surprise their relieving carrier by releasing greased pigs on the flight deck. This 1986 video is of a helicopter from USS America dropping off pigs on USS John F. Kennedy. pic.twitter.com/LL6UHnfk0V — U.S. Naval Institute (@NavalInstitute) March 1, 2022

Plagued by budget cuts

boston war ship tour

In 2005, the Kennedy was proposed to retire due to upkeep costs, freeing up more than $1 billion in the Defense Department's budget at the time.

Two years later, the ship was formally decommissioned "with dignity and honor" and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in October 2009.

Sold for a cent

boston war ship tour

In 2021, years after it had been decommissioned, the iconic warship was sold to a Texas-based ship-breaking firm for just a cent due to how costly it is to tow and recycle the vessel.

USS Kitty Hawk, which was also sold to International Shipbreaking Limited for a cent, arrived at the scrapyard in Brownsville, Texas , in 2022.

The Kennedy was set to follow in mid-December 2023, but Robert Berry, vice president of International Shipbreaking Limited, said the ship has yet to make an appearance — and he has no idea why.

"I wish I did. I really do. I have a few thousand people poking at me about it, and I just don't have a date," Berry told local Texas newspaper, The Monitor, in late December. "Until the Navy puts out something and tells us something, I don't have anything."

"Anything I say is probably going to be wrong," he added. "By contract, I can't say that much anyway. I really thought we were going to see it in December, but it didn't happen."

'Crying over a rusted piece of metal'

boston war ship tour

A group of veterans who sailed on the Kennedy during the Vietnam War mourned the ship's impending scrapping. Don Russo, one of the group's founding members, recalled his time serving aboard the supercarrier.

"We were on the same ship at the same time, same division. We worked together, drank together," Russo told local newspaper Grant County News. "I can't tell you all the other stuff — our wives are here."

The group, dubbed "Our Division," toured the decommissioned carrier in an emotional final visit last year.

"Five of us, crying over a rusted piece of metal," they said.

The next JFK

boston war ship tour

Though CV-67 is destined for the scrap yard, another ship of its name is already at sea. USS Kennedy (CV-79) is the second in the Gerald R. Ford class of nuclear power aircraft carriers.

Officially launched in 2019, the Navy's newest warship touts a hefty $11 billion price tag — albeit $2 billion shy of $13 billion USS Gerald R. Ford.

The carrier recently tested its new electromagnetic aircraft launch system last month, launching heavy cars into the James River to make sure it can handle catapulting actual fixed-wing aircraft.

boston war ship tour

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A ship with Gaza aid is preparing to inaugurate a sea route from Cyprus to the war-ravaged strip

The ship belonging to the Open Arms aid group is seen docked as it prepares to ferry some 200 tonnes of rice and flour directly to Gaza, at Larnaca harbor, Cyprus, on March 8.

LARNACA, Cyprus (AP) — A ship bearing humanitarian aid was making preparations to leave Cyprus and head for Gaza, the European Commission president said Friday as international donors launched a sea corridor to supply the besieged territory that is facing widespread hunger after five months of war.

The opening of the corridor, along with the recent inauguration of airdrops of aid, showed increasing frustration with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and a new international willingness to work around Israeli restrictions.

The vessel belonging to Spain’s Open Arms aid group will make a pilot voyage to test the corridor in the coming days, Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Cyprus, where she’s inspecting preparations for it. The ship has been waiting at Cyprus’s port of Larnaca for permission to deliver food aid from World Central Kitchen, a U.S. charity founded by celebrity chef José Andrés.

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Israel said Friday it welcomed the maritime corridor, but cautioned it would also need security checks.

“The Cypriot initiative will allow the increase of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, after a security check according to Israeli standards,” Lior Haiat, spokesperson for Israel’s foreign ministry, said on X, formerly Twitter.

The European Union, together with the United States, the United Arab Emirates and other involved countries were launching the sea route in response to the “humanitarian catastrophe” unfolding in Gaza, Von der Leyen said at a news conference with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.

“The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with innocent Palestinian families and children desperate for basic needs,” she said.

Open Arms founder Oscar Camps told The Associated Press the ship is scheduled to depart Saturday and would take two to three days to arrive at an undisclosed location where the group World Central Kitchen is constructing a pier to receive it. The group has 60 food kitchens throughout Gaza to distribute aid, he said.

The ship will pull a barge loaded with 200 tons of rice and flour close to the Gaza shore, he said. Pontoon boats will then be used for the complicated final leg to tow the barge up to the pier.

A barge loaded with around 200 tonnes of rice and flour that will be towed directly to Gaza by the Open Arms aid group ship tied at a dock at port in Larnaca, Cyprus, on March 8.

Camps said his group has been planning the delivery for two months, long before the EU Commission chief declared the launch of the safe corridor. He said he’s not as concerned about the security of the ship as “about the security and lives of the people who are in Gaza.”

“I don’t know if nations plan to do something bigger, but we are doing everything we can” with the group’s 3 million euros budget from private donations, Camps said.

In Brussels, commission spokesman Balazs Ujvari said the Open Arms ship’s direct route to Gaza raises a number of “logistical problems” which are still being worked out. He said United Nations agencies and the Red Cross will also play a role.

Efforts to set up a sea route for aid deliveries come amid mounting alarm over the spread of hunger among Gaza’s 2.3 million people. Hunger is most acute in northern Gaza, which has been isolated by Israeli forces for months and suffered long cutoffs of food supply deliveries.

On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced a plan to build a temporary pier in Gaza to help deliver aid, underscoring how the U.S. has to go around Israel, its main Mideast ally and the top recipient of U.S. military aid, to deliver aid to Gaza, including through airdrops that started last week. Israel accuses Hamas of commandeering some aid deliveries.

Aid officials have said that deliveries by sea and by air are far more costly and inefficient than sending trucks by land in getting the massive amounts of aid needed to people.

In this photo provided by the French Army, a soldier gestures before air-dropping some material over the Gaza Strip, on Jan. 4.

Five people in Gaza were killed and several others were injured when airdrops malfunctioned Friday and hit people and landed on homes, Palestinian officials said.

After months of warnings over the risk of famine in Gaza under Israel’s bombardment, offensives and siege, hospital doctors have reported 20 malnutrition-related deaths at two northern Gaza hospitals.

While reiterating his support for Israel, Biden used his State of the Union speech to reiterate demands that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allow in more aid to Gaza.

“To the leadership of Israel, I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip,” Biden declared before Congress. He also repeated calls for Israel to do more to protect civilians in the fighting, and to work toward Palestinian statehood as the only long-term solution to Israeli-Palestinian violence.

United States officials said it will likely be weeks before the Gaza pier is operational.

Aid groups have said their efforts to deliver desperately needed supplies to Gaza have been hampered because of the difficulty of coordinating with the Israeli military, the ongoing hostilities and the breakdown of public order. It is even more difficult to get aid to the isolated north.

Sigrid Kaag, the U.N. senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, told reporters late Thursday that air and sea deliveries cannot make up for a shortage of supply routes on land.

Von der Leyen said the EU would continue exploring different ways of getting aid to Gaza. She said the bloc would consider “all other options, including airdrops, if our humanitarian partners on the ground consider this effective.”

Meanwhile, efforts to reach a cease-fire before Ramadan appeared stalled. Hamas said Thursday that its delegation had left Cairo, where talks were being held, until next week.

International mediators had hoped to alleviate some of the immediate crisis with a six-week cease-fire, which would have seen Hamas release some of the Israeli hostages it is holding, Israel release some Palestinian prisoners and aid groups be given access to get a major influx of assistance into Gaza.

Palestinian militants are believed to be holding around 100 hostages and the remains of 30 others captured during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, in which militants killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took some 250 hostages. Several dozen hostages were freed in a weeklong November truce, and about 30 are believed to be dead.

Gaza’s Health Ministry says at least 30,878 Palestinians have been killed. It does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its tallies but says women and children make up two-thirds of those killed. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government, maintains detailed records and its casualty figures from previous wars have largely matched those of the U.N. and independent experts.

Egyptian officials said Hamas has agreed to the main terms of such an agreement as a first stage but wants commitments that it will lead to an eventual more permanent cease-fire, while Israel wants to confine the negotiations to the more limited agreement.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations with media. Both officials said mediators are still pressing the two parties to soften their positions.

Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

COMMENTS

  1. Plan Your Visit

    Visit USS Constitution 's website for more information on visiting the Ship. Museum + Ship's Hours. Museum Hours. Open Daily | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. The Museum is closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day and has an early closure at 2:00 PM on December 24th.

  2. USS Constitution Tours and Museum

    USS Constitution. Building 22, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, Massachusetts. Distance from hotel: 3.4 miles. 617-426-1812. Visit Website. Plan Your Visit. Know Before You Go. Map/Directions. Tour the oldest warship afloat in the world on Boston Harbor, and see exhibits and artifacts that tell the story of Old Ironsides and our maritime history.

  3. USS Constitution

    One of these warships, USS Constitution, was built at Hartt's shipyard in the North End of Boston. Construction began in 1794 and Constitution launched on October 21, 1797. The ship sailed its first cruise the next year as the Quasi-War with France emerged. Later it served in engagements with pirates off the Barbary Coast in the Mediterranean.

  4. Visit

    Conveniently located on Boston's Freedom Trail, the Navy Yard offers two historic ships, interactive exhibits, and engaging programs for adults, families, and students of all ages. Spark your imagination and explore your maritime heritage today! Museum + Ship. Explore. Navy Yard. Explore. Schools + Youth.

  5. USS Constitution

    Bldg. 5, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129. Charlestown's hilly roads, narrow streets and gaslight lamps, make it an enticing neighborhood to visit. Follow the Freedom Trail over the Washington St bridge from the North End or take the scenic water locks to Paul Revere Park. Walk through City Square and stroll down cute Main street ...

  6. Hours & Visitor Info

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    Visit one of Boston's most treasured landmarks, the USS Constitution. This 45-minute, informative tour brings you up close and personal with "Old Ironsides" at her home in the Charlestown Navy Yard. You'll also have the option to disembark for a tour of the famous ship and adjacent Naval Museum. Other highlights of the cruise include ...

  10. USS CONSTITUTION: Explore this Historic Ship

    USS Constitution is a historic ship with limited accessibility. A ramp provides access to the top deck dependent on tide conditions. Service animals are allowed on the top deck. Individuals can explore the ship through this virtual tour. For more information on Accessibility, please visit the USS Constitution 's Hours and Visitor Info page.

  11. Home

    See More. View on Facebook. · Share. USS Constitution Museum. 3 days ago. The Museum's collection includes an intricate, carved comb that belonged to Ann McCurdy Hart Hull, wife of Isaac Hull, the celebrated Captain of @USSConstitution during the War of 1812. It provides some clues about Ann and the social norms for a woman of her social standing.

  12. USS CASSIN YOUNG

    About USS Cassin Young (DD-793). Built in 1943 in San Pedro, California, USS Cassing Young is one of 175 Fletcher-class destroyers built during World War II. USS Cassin Young engaged in seven Pacific battles in World War II, survived two Kamikaze hits, and served another full decade beyond the ship's expected lifetime. Here in Charlestown, this navy yard built dozens of similar ships during ...

  13. USS Constitution Boston History & Museum Visitors Guide

    Launched in 1797, the USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat. Crisscrossing the globe, this three-masted frigate participated in the Barbary War off the coast of North Africa and sailed the Caribbean in search of pirates. She earned her nom de guerre Old Ironsides during the War of 1812 when enemy cannonballs bounced ...

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  15. Tour Revolutionary Boston in One Day

    The Boston Tea Party was amongst some of the most important incidents that propelled the American colonies towards war with Great Britain. At the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, visitors can immerse themselves in the excitement of the night of December 16, 1773 by boarding reproductions of the tea ships, viewing artifacts from the event, and ...

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  17. WWII Sites in Boston: Museums, Memorials, Forts, and More

    You can tour the upper deck of the ship yourself or head below deck on a guided tour offered by the National Park Service. (Museum ships are the best kind of museums!) ... The Boston World War II Memorial was completed between 1947 and 1949. It's made of granite and bronze and features a winged victory statue and 27 plaques listing the names ...

  18. Military

    The home to five National Historic Landmarks and Official Veteran Memorials on both state and national levels, Battleship Cove has been providing the preservation of both the military heritage of the New England region and that of the United States since 1965. Battleship Cove is a Memorial and Museum dedicated to the Sacrifice of America's ...

  19. Homepage

    Boston's iconic 2.5 mile-Freedom Trail connects 16 nationally significant historic sites, each one an authentic treasure. Thanks to preservation efforts, these cultural assets are still intact, which makes Boston truly unique as one of the few places in America to experience the actual sites and learn the history they tell while walking through ...

  20. USS CONSTITUTION

    140829-N-XP344-626 BOSTON (Aug. 29, 2014) USS Constitution sets sail in Boston Harbor during the ship's second and final chief petty officer heritage week underway demonstration of 2014.

  21. Boston-Massachusetts Tour

    Itinerary. April 19 1775 midnight. The Patriot Paul Revere mounts up on Brown Betty by the end of this day the world had profoundly changed. We travel through the towns of Boston, Cambridge, Arlington, Belmont, Lexington and Concord. Lexington Green, Hancock Clarke House, Buckman Tavern and Monroe Tavern are important historical sites in Lexington.

  22. DVIDS

    BOSTON (Mar. 14, 2024) - The Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer, USS Truxtun (DDG 103), arrived in Boston for a scheduled port visit, Thursday, Mar. 14.

  23. PHOTO SCROLL: USS Constitution honors Vietnam War veterans in harbor tour

    August 21, 2021. 2. BOSTON (AP) — The USS Constitution sailed into Boston Harbor on Friday and fired a 21-gun salute in honor of Vietnam War veterans on board. Old Ironsides, as the warship is ...

  24. A new Holocaust exhibit in Boston confronts a painful history

    Nearly 80 years ago, World War II was finally coming to an end. In January of 1945, the largest Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz, was liberated by the Soviet army — around 7,000 people were ...

  25. U.S. travel alert: Do not travel to this Caribbean nation, popular spot

    Royal Caribbean ships continue to call on Labadee, the cruise company's property located on a peninsula about six hours drive away from Port-au-Prince, CNN reported.

  26. Charlestown Navy Yard: Tour USS CASSIN YOUNG (DD 793)

    Boston National Historical Park. The mess of the USS CASSIN YOUNG, which visitors will walk through on this tour. Explore above and below the main deck of USS Cassin Young (DD 793), a Fletcher-class Destroyer that served in the Second World War and throughout the 1950s. Learn how such ships were built and see how the men aboard lived, served ...

  27. Aboard Ex-US Aircraft Carrier John F. Kennedy, Site of Greased Pigs Prank

    Dating back to the early 60s, a prank played by carriers in the Mediterranean was to surprise their relieving carrier by releasing greased pigs on the flight deck. This 1986 video is of a ...

  28. Who Are the Houthis Being Hit With US, UK Airstrikes?

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  29. Latest Israel-Hamas war news: Aid ship heads to Gaza amid crisis

    Food charity says aid ship bound for Gaza has set sail from Cyprus. Aid packages are seen at left, on a platform near to the docked ship belonging to the Open Arms aid group, center front, as it ...

  30. A ship with Gaza aid is preparing to inaugurate a ...

    A ship with Gaza aid is preparing to inaugurate a sea route from Cyprus to the war-ravaged strip By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS The Associated Press, Updated March 9, 2024, 7:33 a.m. Email to a Friend