Oak, Steel, and Men: The History of USS Constitution through Artifact Biographies

Abstract

USS Constitution is the oldest warship afloat in the world. After launching on 21 October 1797, the vessel served with distinction in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812. While USS Constitution remains in port as a living heritage piece, it is still a commissioned warship in the U.S. Navy and crewed by active-duty sailors and officers. The vessel’s service record is a testament to the impact it had on American and naval history. This study analyzes connections between the artifacts, the social dimensions, and the service history of the ship. Artifacts examined in this study include tools, weapons, and recycled hull materials. The study uses artifact biography as a tool to discover and examine these relationships during the service history of Constitution. The data set for the project is a combination of an examination of artifacts and documents using resources at the USS Constitution Museum in Boston, MA, and the Naval Academy Museum in Annapolis, MD. Also this study creates 3-D models of two of the artifacts to discover the ways they could be used in a museum’s education and preservation program. Ultimately, the study of specific artifacts can create greater understanding of the sub-groups of the crew and give greater insight into the history of Constitution and the use of 3-D models in museums.