Collections & History

The USS Constitution Museum houses the largest collection of USS Constitution-related objects assembled in one location. The collection focuses on the Ship’s origins, her role in the early republic, her continuing story, and on those who have shaped her history to the present day. The collection contains a wide range of artifact types, spanning the more than 200-year history of USS Constitution.

The collections are also rich in the human dimension of the crew. The Museum owns unique personal mementos from the crew, which reveal the pride they felt in their ship. Through personal possessions such as journals, correspondence, and images, the Museum strives to bring the stories of the people associated with the Ship to life.

The collections are made available through exhibition and via the Library with the goal of encouraging scholarship, research, and new interpretations of USS Constitution's history.

 

• Art and Artifact Collections

  

  With nearly 1,700 artifacts and over 7,000 rare books, manuscripts, and other archival material, the USS Constitution Museum curates the most comprehensive collection of material related to Old Ironsides and the men and women who served on board her.

• Library and Manuscript Collections

  

  Explore a selection of the 7,500 items in the Museum's manuscript collection, or visit the Archives Inventory page to view and download PDF inventories.

• Constitution's History

  

  A national icon for more than 200 years, Constitution has had a long and illustrious career.