The US Navy’s Last Wooden Ship Hunted Slave Ships, Served for 100 Years, and Became a Baltimore Museum

The USS Constellation

Before steel and steam took over, wooden ships ruled the seas. The USS Constellation was the last and best of them. She caught slave traders, delivered famine relief, protected American trade, and survived long enough to tell her tale.

Here’s the story of the last all-sail warship made for the U.S. Navy.

Her First Mission

Captain Charles H. Bell commanded Constellation on her first mission to the Mediterranean in 1855. She joined the U.S. Mediterranean Squadron, staying until 1858. During this time, she protected American merchants from unlawful searches on the high seas.

In July 1856, she hurried to Malaga, Spain to shield Americans during a revolution. While in the Sea of Marmora, she rescued a sinking barque, earning thanks from Austria’s emperor.

She visited key ports including Gibraltar, Naples, and Marseilles, showing the American flag. Her powerful guns and trained crew helped deter potential threats to American shipping in the region.

Fighting Slavery as African Squadron Flagship

In June 1859, Constellation became flagship of the African Squadron under Captain Thomas Aloysius Dornin. She took station off the Congo River on November 21, 1859, joining the fight against slave traders.

The U.S. Navy motivated crews with prize money for captured slave ships and $25 for each freed person. Patrolling coastal waters, Constellation’s lookouts spotted suspicious vessels day and night.

Her speed of over 14 knots helped her chase down slavers. The crew prepared guns and small arms for potential resistance. On December 21, 1859, they captured the brig Delicia, which carried no papers but was fitted with equipment for enslaved people.

The Capture of Cora and Liberation of 700+ Enslaved Africans

On September 26, 1860, Constellation spotted the bark Cora trying to escape. The crew “trimmed the vessel for the chase” and wet the sails to increase speed. After catching Cora, they found 705 enslaved Africans crammed below decks in horrific conditions.

Many were sick, malnourished, and chained. Constellation’s sailors provided food, water, and medical care to the freed people.

The Navy transported all 705 people, including 199 women and children, to Monrovia, Liberia, where they gained freedom.

The Navy later sold Cora at auction, with prize money distributed among Constellation’s crew based on rank.

First Capture of the Civil War: The Seizure of Triton

When Fort Sumter fell on April 12, 1861, Constellation was still patrolling African waters. Just one week later, President Lincoln declared a blockade of southern ports and called for 18,000 new sailors.

On May 21, 1861, Constellation spotted and captured the brig Triton. The ship had slave quarters prepared but carried no enslaved people when seized. This became one of the Navy’s first captures in the Civil War.

Captain Thomas Dornin then received orders to bring Constellation home. The ship reached Portsmouth, New Hampshire on September 28, 1861. The capture demonstrated the Navy’s quick pivot from anti-slavery to Civil War operations.

Mediterranean Patrol During the Civil War

In March 1862, Constellation returned to the Mediterranean under Captain Henry Thatcher. She arrived on April 19 with orders to hunt Confederate raiders attacking Union merchant ships.

Her sail power gave her better endurance than steam ships, making her perfect for long patrols. For two years, she cruised Mediterranean waters, showing Union strength in foreign ports.

Her most significant achievement was helping blockade the Confederate raider CSS Sumter in Gibraltar. Sumter, commanded by Raphael Semmes, was stranded without coal or repairs.

Constellation’s presence prevented the raider from escaping to continue attacking Union ships.

Paris Exposition Mission

From March to July 1878, Constellation carried American exhibits to the Paris Exposition Universelle. She transported technological innovations, art, and cultural items showcasing American progress after the Civil War.

The ship docked in Le Havre, where special cargo handlers carefully unloaded the valuable exhibits. Her crew participated in diplomatic receptions, representing American naval tradition to international visitors.

The Exposition attracted over 16 million people, including European royalty who viewed American innovations. After the Exposition closed, Constellation loaded returning exhibits and sailed home.

This peaceful mission highlighted her transition from warship to diplomatic vessel.

Rescue at Sea: The Olivo Incident

On November 10, 1879, Constellation left for Gibraltar carrying supplies and replacement sailors. Near the Azores on November 24, during a massive storm with 20-foot waves, the crew spotted the sinking Austro-Hungarian barque Olivo.

Despite dangerous conditions, Constellation launched a rescue boat. The small craft battled huge waves to reach the stranded sailors. After safely bringing all Olivo crew members aboard, sailors returned to burn the ship as it posed a navigation hazard.

The rescue boat’s officer received the Gold Lifesaving Medal for his bravery. The rescued sailors stayed aboard until reaching Gibraltar.

Irish Famine Relief Mission

In March 1880, Constellation became a relief ship after a devastating potato crop failure in Ireland. Workers at New York Navy Yard removed her guns and built special cargo bins on the orlop deck.

She carried over 2,500 barrels of potatoes and flour donated by Americans. The ship sailed through strong Atlantic storms, arriving at Queenstown (now Cobh) on April 20. The Duke of Edinburgh personally welcomed Commander Edward Potter and inspected the relief supplies.

After unloading the life-saving food onto smaller boats, Constellation took on stone ballast for the return journey. This mission saved countless Irish lives during the famine.

World War I Service: Training Over 60,000 Recruits

In 1894, Constellation became a stationary training ship at the Newport Naval Training Center in Rhode Island. During World War I, more than 60,000 recruits learned basic seamanship on her decks.

New sailors practiced knot-tying, signal flags, boat handling, and naval customs and traditions. The ship’s rigging served for teaching line handling and sail theory, even though modern warships used steam.

Newport’s shallow waters kept her safe from German U-boats that patrolled the Atlantic. Instructors used her as a living classroom seven days a week to prepare sailors for wartime duties.

Her historic significance inspired pride in the naval service among new recruits.

World War II Flagship: America’s Symbol Recommissioned

After being decommissioned in 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt ordered Constellation back to service in 1940 as war threatened. She received hull number IX-20 and became a relief flagship for Admiral Ernest J. King, Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet.

When King became Chief of Naval Operations in 1942, Vice Admiral Royal E. Ingersoll used her as his flagship until July 20, 1942. Later, Ingersoll again used Constellation as his flagship during 1943-1944.

The ship hosted planning meetings for Atlantic convoy operations and anti-submarine warfare. Her historic status boosted morale as America mobilized for war. She remained in commission throughout World War II.

Preservation and Museum Ship Status

In 1955, after exactly 100 years of service, Constellation was decommissioned for the final time. She moved to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor in 1968 and became a museum ship. In 1963, she was named a National Historic Landmark and joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

By the 1990s, she suffered from dry rot and structural problems, including 36 inches of hogging in her keel. A $9 million restoration at Fort McHenry in 1996-1999 saved the ship. In 2014, another $2 million project repaired rotted hull planking.

Today, she’s part of Historic Ships in Baltimore along with the Coast Guard cutter Taney, submarine Torsk, and lightship Chesapeake.

Exploring the USS Constellation Today

You can experience four complete decks aboard this historic sloop-of-war. On the top deck (spar deck), watch sailing demonstrations and the daily cannon firing at noon.

Below, explore the gun deck with its impressive artillery and peek into the Captain’s cabin. Continue down to the berth deck where sailors lived and ate.

The lowest level shows how food and supplies were stored for months at sea. Don’t miss talking with knowledgeable staff dressed in period uniforms who bring the ship’s stories to life. Kids especially enjoy the “powder monkey” demonstrations showing how young boys helped during battles.

The ship offers excellent harbor views and great photo opportunities from its vantage point at Pier 1.

Special Programs and Activities

You can do much more than just tour the ship when visiting. Join the hands-on Parrott rifle drill where you’ll learn how sailors operated the ship’s weapons. Try your hand at turning the capstan to weigh anchor, feeling the physical effort sailors needed daily.

For families, the Powder Monkey Tour teaches children about the lives of young boys who served aboard during the Civil War. History buffs will appreciate the African Squadron Tour highlighting the ship’s role fighting slave traders.

The Maritime Macabre Tour (seasonally available) explores the darker aspects of 19th-century sailing life, including sailors who reportedly still haunt the vessel.

For the most immersive experience, overnight adventure programs let groups sleep in hammocks just like the original crew.

Visitor Information

The USS Constellation is located at Pier 1 in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor at 301 E. Pratt Street.

As of 2025, the ship is open Thursday through Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday) from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with seasonal variations. Adult tickets start at $15, children 6-14 cost $7, and kids under 5 enter free.

Your ticket also grants admission to one other Historic Ships vessel (USS Torsk submarine, USCGC Cutter 37, or Lightship Chesapeake).

All-ships passes are available. Active military in uniform receive free admission. The ships don’t accept cash—only credit cards. All visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Steep ladders and narrow passages make some areas challenging for those with mobility issues. For the latest hours, check historicships.org.

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