Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Retired from combat in 1815, the
Constitution
was rescued from destruction when
Oliver Wendell Holmes's poem “Old Ironsides” launched a preservation movement in
1830. The frigate was completely overhauled for its bicentennial in 1997, when it
sailed under its own power for the first time since 1881, drawing international atten-
tion. Tugs tow the
Constitution
into the harbor every
Fourth of July
for its celebra-
tory “turnaround cruise,” and for occasional events around the harbor. If you see TV
helicopters circling over the water, wander down and take a look.
Adjacent to the ship, National Park Service rangers staff the
Charlestown Navy
Yard Visitor Center
(
&
617/242-5601
), which opened in 2008, and give free 1-hour
guided tours of the base.
To continue on the Freedom Trail:
Walk straight ahead to the museum entrance.
Charlestown Navy Yard.
&
617/242-7511.
www.oldironsides.com. Free tours. Apr-Oct Tues-Sun 10am-6pm; tours
every 30 min. 10am-3:30pm. Nov-Mar Thurs-Sun 10am-4pm; tours every 30 min. 10am-3:30pm. Closed Jan 1,
Presidents Day, Thanksgiving, and Dec 25. T: Ferry from Long Wharf; or Green or Orange Line to North Station, then
a 10-min. walk.
USS Constitution Museum
Just across from the vessel, the museum
features engaging participatory exhibits that allow visitors to hoist a sail, fire a cannon,
swing in a hammock, and learn about life onboard the ship during the War of 1812.
The interactive computer displays—including a Barbary War exhibit that asks you to
decide whether to risk a ship in the Mediterranean—and naval artifacts appeal to visi-
tors of all ages. The museum's collections include more than 3,000 items, arranged
and interpreted to put them in context, and staff members and volunteers conduct
interesting talks (I've seen one every time I've been in the galleries) that expand on the
exhibits. In February and March, special displays and activities focus on ship models.
To continue on the Freedom Trail:
Follow the trail up Constitution Road, cross-
ing Chelsea Street, and continue to the Bunker Hill Monument. A more interesting,
slightly longer route runs from Chelsea Street and Rutherford Avenue (back at the
bridge) across City Square Park.
Off First Ave., Charlestown Navy Yard.
&
617/426-1812.
www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org. Free admission; dona-
tions encouraged. Daily May-Oct 15 9am-6pm; Oct 16-Apr 10am-5pm. Closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving, and Dec 25. T:
Ferry from Long Wharf (Blue Line Aquarium stop), or Green or Orange Line to North Station, then a 10-min. walk.
Kids
Value
Bunker Hill Monument
The 221-foot granite obelisk, a landmark that's visible
from miles away, honors the memory of the colonists who died in the Battle of Bunker
Hill on June 17, 1775. The rebels lost the battle, but nearly half the British troops were
killed or wounded, a loss that contributed to the redcoats' decision to abandon Boston
9 months later. The Marquis de Lafayette, the celebrated hero of the American and
French revolutions, helped lay the monument's cornerstone in 1825. He is buried in
Paris under soil taken from the hill. A punishing flight of 294 steps—imagine your
worst StairMaster experience, then imagine not being able to stop in the middle—leads
to the top of the monument. It's not a can't-miss experience unless you're traveling with
children you'd like to tire out. There's no elevator, and although the views of the har-
bor and the Zakim-Bunker Hill Bridge are good, the windows are quite small.
Across the street is the
Bunker Hill Museum,
which opened in 2007 after exten-
sive renovations to the monument and grounds. The ranger-staffed museum, at the
corner where Monument Avenue enters Monument Square, holds dioramas, a cyclo-
rama mural, and other exhibits about the battle and the community.
Monument Sq., Charlestown.
&
617/242-5641.
www.nps.gov/bost. Free admission. Exhibits daily 9am-5pm; monu-
ment daily 9am-4:30pm (until 5:30pm July-Aug). T: Orange Line to Community College.
