Families learn about early 19th century dental practices during "The Age of Agony" gallery program
Courtesy USS Constitution Museum
 
  Examining early 19th century medical tools with a member of the Museum Learning staff.
Courtesy USS Constitution Museum
Gallery Programs

The USS Constitution Museum offers daily Gallery Programs for our visitors’ learning enjoyment. Our Museum Learning Department staff provide you with in-depth, hands-on interpretation from everything from period medicine to restoration. The programs also immerse visitors of all ages in an interactive learning adventure of life aboard "Old Ironsides" during the Age of Sail.

Special Gallery Programs can be reserved for your group. Please contact the Museum Learning Department at (617) 426-1812 extension 186, or send an email for more information.

Gallery Programs:

• Construction: Details the innovative designs and techniques used to construct America’s first naval vessels.
• Restoration: Features the high-tech and traditional methods used to restore the oldest warship afloat in the world.
• Life at Sea: Discover the daily life of a sailor during the age of fighting sail.
• The Barbary War: Highlights CONSTITUTION ’s contributions to America’s war against the Barbary States on the northern coast of Africa during the early 19th century.
• The War of 1812: Focuses on "Old Ironsides’" triumphant victories over the British, earning the Ship a special place in American history.
• The Age of Agony: Investigate naval medical practices and the tools the surgeons used from the early 1800s.
• Boarders Away!: Find out how sailors and Marines used small arms and individual weapons aboard ship.
• One Dark and Stormy Night: Uncover a most unusual episode from CONSTITUTION's history, the beheading of her presidential figurehead.

 
Our "Life at Sea" Gallery Program provides visitors an opportunity to touch reproduction artifacts and learn about what life was like onboard CONSTITUTION in 1812.
Courtesy USS Constitution Museum

 

• All in a Day’s Work: Experience the daily routine of a sailor on board CONSTITUTION.
• A Stitch in Time-Clothing the American Sailor: Try on a sailor’s outfit from 1812 and have a go at sewing buttons.
• Cat’s Out of the Bag-Discipline at Sea: Hear about the grueling shipboard punishments of flogging and confinement in irons, and engage in a discussion about a real-life discipline situation on board CONSTITUTION.
• Make a Mess-A Sailor’s Supper: Sit down for a pretend meal of hardtack and salted meat and participate in a story telling game.
• Marked for Life-Sailors’ Tattoos: Learn about the history of sailor tattoos and mark yourself with a temporary tattoo.