The USS Constitution is one of the original ships of the US Navy, one of the six and the only one still afloat. The USS Constitution Museum is one of the most interactive museums in the world, and one of the most interesting. Unlike most museums, you are not expected to walk around and look at some displays. You are actually part of the displays.

You can do many of the things the brave crew of the USS Constitution did, imagine yourself to be in a bygone time, a part of the crew that had to do desperate things in desperate times. You could hoist the flag, or fire a cannon, if that is too tame for you. Or you could swing in a hammock, or do something a bit more skillful, like taking in a sail and balancing on a footrope – things sailors did without a second thought.

As you learn about how life was aboard the ship during times of peace and war, especially the War of 1812, you will experience it through interactive presentations and computer displays that will make you feel like you were there, not just listening to a spiel almost two centuries later.

The three thousand items that the museum can proudly claim to have are all meticulously arranged, with knowledgeable people who not only know, but love what they know and make it all come alive for you when they talk about it.

February and March are the best months to visit, because the focus is on ship models. Any time, National Park Service Rangers will give you guided tours of the whole base, if you go to the navy yard.

Berthed nearby to Boston city, the USS Constitution is easily accessible via the public park and harbor area in Boston. So, you can simply stay at one of the central city Boston hotels, such as the Langham Hotel Boston, and take some time off to tour the ship at leisure.