Click On Image
For Full Size Image |
Size |
Image Description |
Contributed
By |
094602072 |
46k |
Namesake
Constellation - Refers to the Flag Act of 1777 which was passed by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, in response to a petition made by a Native American nation
on June 3 for "an American Flag." "Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue
field, representing a new constellation." |
Tommy Trampp |
 |
410k |
USS Constellation poster |
Tommy Trampp |
 |
321k |
USS Constellation (II) in Dry Dock 1 at the Boston Navy Yard. The sloop-of-war was in the dock between October 1858 and January 1859. (U.S. Navy copy of contemporary drawing, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10721) |
Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA |
 |
152k |
View of the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. waterfront area, circa the late 1860s, looking northeast from the tower of New Quarters. The
twin-turret monitor moored in the Severn River, at left, is USS Tonawanda. Ships at the
pier in right center are
USS Constellation, USS Dale and
USS Santee. Note the small tug on the beach at left, apparently under construction or
undergoing a major overhaul, and the side-wheel steamer at the dock.
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 49813
| Robert Hurst |
 |
172k |
Ships moored at the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. in 1879 are from left to right:
USS Dale
USS Constellation (II) and
USS Santee. The marine barracks
Wyandank is in the center of the photo. |
Darryl Baker |
098602706 |
192k |
USS Wyoming and USS Constellation
moored at Santees wharf, US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD.
US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 901121 |
US Naval History and Heritage Command |
098602707 |
320k |
Bird's eye view from Hunter's Bluff, US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. photo by E.H. Hart 1887. From right to left,
USS Constellation,
USS Wyoming(1859-92), and
USS Katahdin (RAM) (1896-1909).
US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 901212 |
US Naval History and Heritage Command |
 |
80k |
USS Constellation (II) under sail sometime between 1890 and 1905.
US Library of Congress Photo # LC-D4-32273 |
Mike Green |
 |
503k |
Painting by Tom W. Freeman of the sloop-of-war USS Constellation (II) coming into Queenstown (Cobb) Ireland in 1880 for humanitarian relief during
the Irish famine. |
Tommy Trampp |
 |
48k |
1884 magazine engraving depicting USS Constellation (II) in Cork harbor. |
Tommy Trampp |
 |
222k |
Magazine engraving, dated 1884, showing USS Constellation taking on supplies destined for Ireland during the Great Famine. |
Tommy Trampp |
 |
113k |
1884 magazine engraving depicting the Duke of Edinburgh visiting USS Constellation (II) |
Tommy Trampp |
 |
63k |
A view of the waterfront at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, circa 1886, with the floating drydock at left. Ships present are (from left to right):
USS Constellation (II);
USS Dale;
USS Tallapoosa; and
USS Constitution (housed over).
Photo courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, 1971.
US Naval History and Heritage Command photo #: NH 58947 |
Robert Hurst |
 |
271k |
Illustration of USS Constellation (II) underway under full sail in 1893.
From "Historic Ship Exhibits in the United States |
Tommy Trampp |
098602527 |
152k |
Painting by Fred S. Cozzens, 1893 of from left to right;
USS Portsmouth (II)
USS Constellation (II),
USS Bancroft, and
USS Saratoga (III)
US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 442. "Our Navy: Its Growth and Achievements", ©1897. |
Robert Hurst |
 |
28k |
A still image taken from a video of USS Constellation (II) at Newport, Rhode Island, circa September to November 1900. SUMMARY From Edison films catalog: This picture opens with the young cadets climbing the rigging and going through the sail drill on board the famous historic ship "Constellation." Loosing sail to buntline, making sail, shortening sail and furling; also loose sail to bowline. This picture is absolutely perfect photographically also very thrilling, and makes a most interesting subject. Original film by Thomas A. Edison; 22 Nov 1900; D22020. REPOSITORY Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division Washington, D. C. 20540 USA DIGITAL ID edmp 1729
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mbrsmi/edmp.1729 |
Robert Hurst |
 |
323k |
Post card image of USS Constellation (II) serving as Training Ships at Newport, R.I., circa 1907.
Photo ©1907 Enrique Muller |
Tommy Trampp |
094600813 |
192k |
USS Cumberland (Training Ship #1) dockside at Newport, Rhode Island, with USS Constellation
at left, circa 1907.
US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 55531 |
Robert Hurst |
094602528 |
123k |
Post card (dated 23 July 1909) image of USS Reina Mercedes and USS Constellation at the US Naval Training Station, Newport, R.I.. |
Sandra Dunlap |
 |
216k |
Post card image of Reina Mercedes,
USS Cumberland (Training Ship #1) and USS Constellation (II) serving as Receiving/Training Ships at Newport, R.I., circa 1905 to 1911. |
Arnold A. Putnam |
 |
114k |
USS Constellation (II) moored pierside, location unknown, circa 1914.
US Library of Congress Photo # LC-DIG-hec-04938 |
Mike Green |
094602074 |
133k |
Post card image of USS Constellation (II) in Baltimore for The Centennial Anniversary of 1814 Battle of Baltimore;
"Old Frigate Constellation During Star Spangled Banner Centennial - 1 September 1914".
Photo courtesy of HansMair, licensed under Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International |
Robert Hurst |
 |
139k |
USS Constellation (II) underway, date and location unknown |
Jim Kurrasch
Battleship Iowa Pacific Battleship Center |
094602073 |
139k |
USS Constellation (II) moored pierside, circa 1926. Location unknown.
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, (NAID) 513001 |
Robert Hurst |
 |
119k |
USS Constellation (IX-20) moored at Newport, R.I., 20 March 1935. |
Ron Reeves |
 |
132k |
USS Constellation (II) moored pierside at Newport R.I., date unknown. |
Robert Hurst |
 |
377k |
Post card image of USS Constellation (IX-20) moored at a wharf at Naval Station Newport, R.I. adjacent to the south drill field, October 1942 |
Tommy Trampp |
 |
300k |
Post card image of USS Constellation (IX-20) anchors on display in front of the ship in her berth at Naval Station Newport, R.I. adjacent to the south drill field, 1943. |
Tommy Trampp |
 |
217k |
Stern view of USS Constellation (IX-20) was drydocked in Dry Dock 4 at the South Boston Annex of the Boston Naval Shipyard in August and September 1946 to determine the feasibility and cost of making her into a “permanent relic.” (U.S. Navy photos NY2-2806-46, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10723) |
Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA.
 |
143k |
Bow view of USS Constellation (IX-20) was drydocked in Dry Dock 4 at the South Boston Annex of the Boston Naval Shipyard in August and September 1946 to determine the feasibility and cost of making her into a “permanent relic.” (U.S. Navy photos NY2-2806-47, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10723) |
Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA |
 |
151k |
USS Constellation (IX-20) is seen berthed at Pier 1 West of the Boston Naval Shipyard in 1947. USS Constitution (IX-21) is seen at right. Constitution now occupies this berth. (U.S. Navy photo NY2-1173-47, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10723) |
Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA |
 |
243k |
USS Constellation (IX-20) is decommissioned at Pier 11 of the Boston Naval Shipyard on 4 February 1955. (U.S. Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10723) |
Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA |
 |
79k |
USS Constellation (IX-20) is maneuvered into floating dry dock USS ARD-16 on 5 August 1955 in preparation for her transfer from the Boston Naval Shipyard to Baltimore. (U.S. Navy photos, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10725-2) |
Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA |
 |
139k |
USS Constellation (IX-20) is maneuvered into floating dry dock USS ARD-16 on 5 August 1955 in preparation for her transfer from the Boston Naval Shipyard to Baltimore. (U.S. Navy photos, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10725-3) |
Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA |
 |
182k |
USS Constellation (IX-20) is seen in floating dry dock USS ARD-16 at Pier 6 of the Boston Naval Shipyard on 5 August 1955. The harbor tug Chegodega (YTB-542) is seen at right, with Wawasee (YTB-367) at left. On the far left side, USS Mineral County (LST-988) is at Pier 5. (U.S. Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10726) |
Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA |
 |
81k |
USS Nipmuc (ATF-157) tows USS ARD-16 carrying USS Constellation (IX-20) down Boston Harbor on 5 August 1955 during the historic vessel’s transfer to Baltimore. The commercial tug Hercules is near the floating dry dock’s bow, while Chegodega (YTB-542) is at the stern. (U.S. Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10726) |
Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA. |
 |
911k |
USS Nipmuc (ATF-157) tows USS ARD-16 carrying USS Constellation (IX-20) into the harbor at Baltimore, MD., 9 August 1955.
AP Wirephoto |
Ron Reeves |
 |
65k |
USS Constellation at anchor, date and location unknown. |
Robert Hurst |
 |
49k |
USS Constellation moored pierside, circa 1970s, Baltimore Harbor MD. |
Tommy Trampp |
 |
88k |
USS Constellation moored at Pier 1, 301 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Independent City, MD. circa 1978.
Library of Congress Photo # HAER MD-168-1 (CT) |
Mike Green |
 |
73k |
USS Constellation moored at her berth in the Inner Harbor at Baltimore, MD., date unknown. Photo from "Warship Boneyards", by Kit and Carolyn Bonner, courtesy US Frigate Constellation Association. |
Robert Hurst |
 |
467k |
Post card image of USS Constellation moored at her berth in the Inner Harbor at Baltimore, MD., date unknown. |
Tommy Trampp |
 |
146k |
USS Constellation at Baltimore, MD., date unknown. |
© Richard Leonhardt |
 |
163k |
USS Constellation at Baltimore, MD., date unknown. |
© Richard Leonhardt |
 |
156k |
USS Constellation at Baltimore, MD., date unknown. |
© Richard Leonhardt |
094602075 |
4454k |
USS Constellation at Baltimore, MD., March 1983. |
Photos by CAPT. Mark Heilenday, USN Ret. |
094602076 |
4380k |
 |
89k |
USS Constellation at Baltimore, MD. in 1999. |
Hyperwar US Navy in WWII web site |
 |
141k |
USS Constellation moored at her berth in the Inner Harbor at Baltimore, MD., 4 March 2006. |
Photo by Wendell McLaughlin |
 |
143k |
USS Constellation moored at her berth in the Inner Harbor at Baltimore, MD., 11 February 2007, photo by Chuck Szmurlo. |
Robert Hurst |
 |
568k |
USS Constellation moored at her berth in the Inner Harbor at Baltimore, MD., 12 July 2010, photo Photo courtesy of 350z33
(real name unknown). |
Robert Hurst |
094602070 |
285k |
USS Constellation sits on blocks in the dry dock at Tradepoint Atlantic Shipyard after eight weeks of repairs. The dry dock was partially flooded so that the
1854 sloop-of-war could be checked for leaks.
USS Constellation back in shipshape condition - 19th-century tall ship underwent 8 weeks of repairs in dry dock, 2022.
©Amy Davis Baltimore Sun photos
When the USS Constellation began leaking 3,000 gallons of water an hour more than two years ago, Chris Rowsom knew repairs were needed — and urgently.
As a stopgap measure before they could get the 19th-century tall ship into dry dock for repairs, divers began making emergency patches about every six weeks.
“Ideally, a wooden ship needs to get out of the water every five years for repairs,” said Rowsom, executive director of Historic Ships in Baltimore.
It’s taken seven years to raise the money for this drydock visit, which has just been completed at a cost of roughly $1 million.
“Visitors keep the lights on and pay staff but don’t pay for big-ticket items,” Rowsom said.
State and city funding totaling nearly $2.8 million also will cover other major repairs to the sloop-of-war, which is considered a National Historic Landmark, at its berth in the Inner Harbor.
When the Constellation was brought to Baltimore from Boston in 1955, the vessel was widely considered to be the original 1797 frigate built in Baltimore.
Confusion about the ship’s origins was put to rest in the 1990s when a naval historian confirmed that the Constellation was a new ship, built between 1853 and 1855 at the Gosport Shipyard — now the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia — after the original Constellation was scrapped. The warship was the last sail-only ship built by the Navy.
The Constellation battled the slave trade in its first years, capturing three slave ships off the coast of Africa by 1861 and rescuing 3,700 enslaved people. During the Civil War the Constellation guarded Union merchant ships in the Mediterranean. Among her other assignments was carrying relief supplies to Ireland during the potato famine in 1880.
Brought out of retirement in 1940, the Constellation served as a shore-based relief flagship for the U.S. Atlantic Fleet during World War II. When the sloop-of-war was decommissioned in 1955, it was the oldest ship in the U.S. Navy.
The Constellation was relocated to the Inner Harbor in 1968, but with inadequate funding the ship continued to deteriorate. The once-mighty tall ship, now sagging and possibly headed for the scrap yard, was closed to the public in 1994.
A new Constellation Foundation raised the funds for critical repairs, and today the Constellation is a floating museum operated by Historic Ships in Baltimore, a program of the Living Classrooms Foundation.
General Ship Repair, a small shipyard in Locust Point, was hired to drydock and paint the Constellation this fall, which it did at the Tradepoint Atlantic Shipyard at Sparrows Point.
Dockmaster Eddie Stevens oversaw the move of the Constellation on Oct. 25.
“All I do is pick up ships for a living,” joked Stevens, who spent 28 hours working with two crews of divers to get the ship perfectly centered on preset blocks.
It took 24 hours to pump the water out of the 1,200-foot-long dry dock at the one-time Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard. Nestled on blocks inside the cavernous dock, the Constellation looked as diminutive as a songbird resting in a fallow field.
Workers then scrubbed the hull, using a low-pressure wash and scraping to remove barnacles, mussels and other marine growth from the ship’s bottom. After this rugged facial, a crew of five shipwrights, their apprentices, plus volunteers, meticulously scraped and brushed every pore of the hull in preparation for patching and painting.
Mike Vlahovich, a shipwright from Croatia, assembled the team of shipwrights, who use the same techniques employed in the 19th century.
Oakum, a material made of hemp soaked in pine tar and oil that is embedded between the long ship planks, is ripped out in a process called “reefing.”
First cotton, then fresh oakum is neatly threaded into the narrow plank seams and covered with Portland cement. Where the plank butts, or edges, meet, small sheets of lead are tarred and nailed into place to patch potential leak points.
If shipwrights discover a section of old damaged wood, it is carefully carved out and replaced with a new piece of wood cut to size, called a “Dutchman.”
Assisting the experienced shipwrights, who were recruited by Vlahovich from around the country, are five apprentices new to ship repair. These men are Baltimore City Corrections prerelease inmates, who came to the Constellation through a partnership with Living Classrooms.
After six weeks spent learning skills from the shipwrights, apprentices have the opportunity to continue with Project Serve, a reentry job-training and life-skills program for ex-offenders.
While rolling paint apprentice James Scott commented that “the Constellation has a long history of social justice.”
“I like that I’m working on something that generations of people have worked on,” said Shaquawn Meredith, another apprentice. “That’s cool — plus we get a blast of fresh air.”
The bracing wind that whips through the vast dry dock does not seem to diminish the crew’s enthusiasm.
“These are skills I’m going to take with me,” said Meredith, while painting the plank seams.
“Never know where I’m going to use them.”
Finally, the crews applied 90 gallons of paint to the hull. The final two coats of paint are a blue-green that mimics the patina of the original weathered copper sheathing.
After the paint dries, the dock was partially flooded Dec. 14 so that Rowsom could inspect the ship’s hold to look for any leaks. Fortunately, only weeping seams are found, which he minimizes by cranking up a couple of bilge pumps.
On Monday morning the 168-year-old USS Constellation, finally watertight again, made the two-hour journey, under tow, up the Patapsco River from Sparrows Point to its berth in the Inner Harbor. As he supervises the crew securing the lines at its Pier 1 berth, Rowsom looks relieved.
“We made it here and the ship is in good shape,” he said. “It was an uneventful trip, which is the best kind.” |
Barbara Beeton |
094602071
| 256k |
|
