USS Constellation
USS Constellation was a nominally rated 38-gun wooden-hulled, three-masted frigate of the United States Navy. She was named by George Washington to reflect a principle of the United States Constitution She was built under the direction of David Stodder at his naval shipyard o…
Is the USS Constellation still in service?
The USS Constellation was eventually decommissioned in 1955 after 100 years of service. Located in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, this vessel is the only surviving ship from the Civil War Era. It is now a National Historic Landmark. Explore More! Tour all four decks of the ship and talk with crew members.
When was the USS Constellation decommissioned?
Constellation ' s crew on deck during the ship's decommissioning ceremony in San Diego, 7 August 2003. After 41 years of commissioned service, USS Constellation was decommissioned at the Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego on 7 August 2003.
How much did the USS Constellation cost in 1961?
Constellation was delivered to the Navy 1 October 1961, and commissioned on 27 October 1961, with Captain T. J. Walker in command. At that time, she had cost about US$264.5 million. Constellation was the last conventional U.S. aircraft carrier (as of January 2021) to be built at a yard other than Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company.
Who sponsored the USS Constellation in 1960?
She was christened and launched 8 October 1960, sponsored by Mary Herter (wife of Secretary of State Christian Herter ). Constellation was delivered to the Navy 1 October 1961, and commissioned on 27 October 1961, with Captain T. J. Walker in command.
Can you go on the USS Constellation?
Self-Guided Group Tours (Groups of 10 or More) From January through May, only USS Constellation and USS Torsk are open, and groups may choose between visiting one or both ships.
When was the USS Constellation scrapped?
Nicknamed 'America's Flagship', it was decommissioned on August 7, 2003, after 41 years, nine months and 11 days of naval service. On August 8, 2014, it left Bremerton, Washington under tow for Brownsville, Texas, arrived there in mid-January 2015, and was subsequently broken up for scrap.
How many crews are on the USS Constellation?
3310 crew membersTry the Ship's Store. There are 3310 crew members registered for the USS Constellation (CV 64).
Does the USS Constellation sail?
The USS Constellation is a sloop-of-war, the last sail-only warship designed and built by the United States Navy.
Where is USS Constellation now?
The USS Constellation was eventually decommissioned in 1955 after 100 years of service. Located in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, this vessel is the only surviving ship from the Civil War Era. It is now a National Historic Landmark.
What is the oldest aircraft carrier still afloat?
What is this? First commissioned on May 3, 1975, the USS Nimitz is the oldest aircraft carrier still in service in the world. The Nimitz was authorized by Congress in 1967 and cost $1 billion (in 1975 dollars).
Was the USS Constellation exposed to Agent Orange?
The U.S.S. Constellation was an aircraft carrier and many stationed on board loaded agent-orange onto aircraft that dropped it over Viet Nam or were exposed in other ways. One of Harry's lungs had collapsed while serving aboard the ship and we were confident he qualified for benefits.
Was the USS Constellation in the Vietnam War?
History of Service and Deployment Before setting out after being commissioned by Captain T.J. Walker on October 27, 1961, the USS Constellation underwent shakedown in the Caribbean. From 1963 through 1970, she served multiple tours of duty deployed in the Vietnam War.
What class carrier was the Kitty Hawk?
The Kitty Hawk-class supercarriers of the United States Navy were an incremental improvement on the Forrestal-class vessels. Three were built, all in the 1960s, Kitty Hawk (CV-63) (1961–2009), Constellation (CV-64) (1961–2003), and America (CV-66) (1965–1996), as well as the variant John F. Kennedy (CV-67) (1967–2007).
How long does it take to tour the USS Constellation?
We took about three hours for the ship & museum. I'd suggest visiting during the week. over a year ago. Unfortunately the ship was not open for tour when we were there.
Why does the Navy call ships she?
Another tradition is to consider ships as female, referring to them as 'she'. Although it may sound strange referring to an inanimate object as 'she', this tradition relates to the idea of a female figure such as a mother or goddess guiding and protecting a ship and crew.
How old is the ship the Constellation?
USS Constellation (1854)HistoryUnited StatesLaunched26 August 1854Commissioned28 July 1855RenamedOld Constellation, 1 December 191731 more rows
Was the USS Constellation exposed to Agent Orange?
The U.S.S. Constellation was an aircraft carrier and many stationed on board loaded agent-orange onto aircraft that dropped it over Viet Nam or were exposed in other ways. One of Harry's lungs had collapsed while serving aboard the ship and we were confident he qualified for benefits.
Was the USS Constellation in the Vietnam War?
History of Service and Deployment Before setting out after being commissioned by Captain T.J. Walker on October 27, 1961, the USS Constellation underwent shakedown in the Caribbean. From 1963 through 1970, she served multiple tours of duty deployed in the Vietnam War.
How old is the ship the constellation?
USS Constellation (1854)HistoryUnited StatesLaunched26 August 1854Commissioned28 July 1855RenamedOld Constellation, 1 December 191731 more rows
Is the Tiger Cruise real?
Tiger cruises allow friends and family of deployed sailors and Marines to spend time aboard a sea-going vessel to experience the ship's day-to-day operations.
History
The keel of Constellation was laid down at New York Naval Shipyard in 1957.
In popular culture
In 1996, the aircraft carrier is featured in an episode of Home Improvement, season 6, episode 1. The episode featured the cast of Tool Time boarding and touring the ship's facilities.
Design and construction
From 1816 to the 1830s, the Navy accumulated extensive stocks of live oak timbers for use in new warship construction under the provisions of the Act for the Gradual Increase of the Navy of the United States, passed in 1816.
Service history
Constellation was commissioned on 28 July 1855, under the command of Captain Charles H. Bell. She immediately departed for a tour with the Mediterranean Squadron that lasted three years. During this period, she stopped in Málaga, Spain in July 1856 to protect American nationals in the area during a period of civil unrest.
Restoration and museum ship
During the initial reconstruction to ready the ship for use as a museum, and under the mistaken impression that the 1797 frigate and the 1854 sloop were the same vessel, the workers reconfigured Constellation to resemble the 1797 vessel.
Identity controversy
The city of Baltimore and the organization that maintained Constellation promoted the ship as having been the 1797 frigate and even rebuilt sections of the ship to resemble the earlier vessel.

Overview
Service history
The keel of Constellation was laid down at New York Naval Shipyard in 1957.
USS Constellation was heavily damaged by fire while under construction on 19 December 1960. The carrier was in the final stages of construction at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York when the fire began.
The fire broke out when a forklift operating on the hangar deck accidentally pu…
Design and construction
Restoration and museum ship
Identity controversy
Awards
See also
Constellation was commissioned on 28 July 1855, under the command of Captain Charles H. Bell. She immediately departed for a tour with the Mediterranean Squadron that lasted three years. During this period, she stopped in Málaga, Spain in July 1856 to protect American nationals in the area during a period of civil unrest. Later that year, she came to the aid of a barque in the Sea …
External links
From 1816 to the 1830s, the Navy accumulated extensive stocks of live oak timbers for use in new warship construction under the provisions of the Act for the Gradual Increase of the Navy of the United States, passed in 1816. In the early 1850s, the Navy decided to build a new sail-powered ship using these existing stockpiles, calling for a sloop-of-war that would be fast, with a long endurance, and sufficiently armed to be capable of engaging other warships of her type. This wo…