The construction of the USS Constellation began in 1853, and it was first launched into U.S. service the next year. The ship remained active throughout the 1850s and most of the 1860s, until it slowed down to become a practice ship for the U.S. Naval Academy throughout the last few decades of the 19th century. The Constellation is the epitome of 19th-century technology, and visitors are invited to indulge in hands-on explorations of its operations and history.
