In October of 2007, USS CONSTITUTION entered a restoration period that will last approximately three years.
 
While USS Constitution is undergoing this restoration period, the ship will remain in the Charlestown Navy Yard at Pier One, and will be open for free, public tours and special events. USS CONSTITUTION has not had a major overhaul in more than a decade. During the restoration period, craftsmen from Naval History & Heritage Command Detachment Boston will perform reconstruction work on the spar deck to restore "Old Ironsides" to her 1812 configuration.
During the ship's restoration, USS CONSTITUTION's 2008 through 2010 underway demonstrations will not be open to the public. We are scheduled to accept entries for ticket drawings to USS CONSTITUTION's 2011 underway demonstrations beginning the fall of 2010.
Maintenance Photos


Nov. 5, 2007 - USS CONSTITUTION maintenance and repair (M&R) crew drill new bolt holes to secure a new plank into "Old Ironsides" outer hull.
Nov. 26, 2007 - M&R installs a new white oak plank to the outer hull of USS CONSTITUTION.

Nov. 5, 2007 - A USS Constitution repair technician chisels through the foward interior caprail to remove the iron pins securing it.
Dec. 27, 2007 - White protective plastic tarps cover USS CONSTITUTION's port and starboard bulkheads from where the caprail has been removed.

May 7, 2007 - USS CONSTITUTION rigged with three out of twelve of her yards on the masts.
Nov. 29, 2007 - Constitution's foremast coarse yard is the final yard to be removed from the ship.

Jan. 11, 2007 - The last of USS CONSTITUTION's 32-pound carronades being removed from the spar deck.
Jan. 15, 2007 - USS CONSTITUTION's spar deck with all of the 32-pound carronades removed.

Jan. 24, 2008 - USS CONSTITUTION's cathead being removed from portside foward quarter. The cathead was used to stow the anchor when underway.
Apr. 22, 2008 - USS CONSTITUTION maintenance and repair crew install a new cathead.

Nov. 14, 2007 - USS CONSTITUTION's stern with three small boats.
June 25, 2008 - USS CONSTITUTION's stern with a roof to protect the spardeck when the maintenance and repair crew replace the deck planking on the aft end of the ship.

May 30, 2007 - USS CONSTITUTION aft spar deck.
July 15, 2008 - USS CONSTITUTION's maintenance and repair crew tearing up the deck planking on the aft spar deck.

Aug. 30, 2007 - USS CONSTITUTION with all of her masts, yards and bowsprit.
Oct. 28, 2008 - USS CONSTITUTION with the top two sections of masts taken down, yards and bowsprit removed.

July 17, 2008 - USS CONSTITUTION's maintenance and repair workers pulling deck pins and deck planks from the aft spar deck.
Nov. 4, 2008 - Newly replaced deck planking.

Nov. 27, 2007 - USS CONSTITUTION's main mast fighting top.
Nov. 4, 2008 - USS CONSTITUTION's main mast fighting top being removed.

Mar. 18, 2008 - The starboard (right) side spar deck with an armament of 32-pound carronades.
Dec. 9, 2008 - The starboard side spar deck with both the guns and deck planking removed. The picture to the left illustrates Old Ironsides' spar deck before restoration began. USS Constitution's top deck had lost its centered curve due to common warping, and the above picture illustrates the middle step in the process of recurving and replacing the deck planks.

Oct. 28, 2009 - The new cap rail is installed on the aft starboard bulwarks.
Oct. 28, 2009 - The new cap rail is installed on the aft starboard bulwarks.

Oct. 28, 2009 - The new cap rail is installed on the aft starboard bulwarks.
Nov 24, 2009 - Crewmembers assist NHHC Boston in placing rolled oakum between new deck planks on the forward starboard spar deck.

Jan. 5, 2010- NHHC installs a new white oak plank to the outer hull of USS CONSTITUTION.
Jan. 5, 2010- NHHC continues work on the outer hull of USS CONSTITUTION.

Jan. 5, 2010-The USS CONSTITUTION's forward spar deck roof removed.
Jan. 5, 2010- NHHC continues work on the spar deck hatch.

Feb 2, 2010-The Mainmast Fighting Top is returned and rigging of the shrouds begins.

Feb 2, 2010-The Mainmast Fighting Top is returned and rigging of the shrouds begins.
USS CONSTITUTION Bldg. 5 Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, MA 02129