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Old Ironsides will lead Sail Boston 250’s parade of tall ships. Here’s why the undefeated ship still matters.

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Celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States and Boston’s maritime history, dozens of tall ships from around the world will sail into Boston Harbor for Sail Boston 2026. Leading the procession will be the USS Constitution, the undefeated warship that historians say helped put the country on the map.

Built in Boston’s North End and the world’s oldest commissioned warship, the USS Constitution is currently undergoing maintenance and preservation work ahead of the six-day bicentennial event, running from July 11 to 16. 

While ships from more than 25 countries are expected to participate, the USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, stands apart due to its ties to Boston, historic victories, and role in shaping the country’s identity, according to Jeff Draeger, president and CEO of the USS Constitution Museum. 

“[USS] Constitution really changed the world,” he said. “It put our nation on the map. It connected us with people all around the globe.” 

What to expect during Sail Boston 2026 

On July 11, spectators lining Boston Harbor will watch the USS Constitution lead the parade of tall ships as numerous vessels sail into the city, Draeger said. 

“It’s going to remind us again that Boston is truly a maritime city from this harbor. Great people, ideas, [and] innovations have really set sail,” he said. “[USS] Constitution is certainly one of them, and it stands tall in that Boston tradition.” 

Carl Herzog, the USS Constitution Museum’s public historian, will narrate the parade, Draeger added. 

Ahead of the parade, the ship is undergoing seasonal maintenance conducted by the U.S. Navy. Crews are restoring sections of the rigging and reinstalling pieces of the forward main mast that had been removed, according to Draeger.

The vessel has undergone multiple restorations throughout its history, particularly during the 20th century, when preservation efforts focused on returning the ship closer to its original condition. Another major restoration is expected within the next decade as Old Ironsides approaches its 250th birthday, Draeger said.

Why Old Ironsides remains the star of Boston Harbor nearly 230 years later

Launched in 1797, the USS Constitution is deeply woven into Boston’s history and the nation’s maritime legacy.

The ship first served in the Quasi-War with France and the First Barbary War, helping protect American trade routes during the country’s earliest years, according to the USS Constitution Museum’s timeline of its history. 

“Built in Boston, it represents the best of what we could build back in 1797,” Draeger said, adding that the ship’s construction was “very innovative for the time.” 

The roughly 220-foot vessel gained its status during the War of 1812 after defeating the British warship HMS Guerriere. Sailors watched as enemy cannonballs bounced harmlessly off the hull, granting its nickname “Old Ironsides.”

But Draeger said the battle’s significance went beyond earning a famous nickname; the victory marked a turning point that boosted international respect for the young nation. 

“It signaled that the United States had arrived,” he added.  

The USS Constitution went on to win additional battles before embarking on a world cruise in the 1840s, sailing more than 52,000 miles and visiting over 25 countries while protecting American commerce and gathering intelligence on foreign waters. 

By 1860, the ship was no longer needed as a frontline warship and instead served as a training vessel for midshipmen at the Naval Academy. Two decades later, it returned to Boston to operate as a receiving ship at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. 

Today, Old Ironsides remains a fully commissioned Navy vessel with an active-duty crew. Since the 1930s, the vessel has been stationed at the Charlestown Navy Yard, part of the Boston National Historical Park. 

“It’s not just an historic artifact — it’s a living connection,” Draeger said. “It goes back to the founding of the country.” 

Draeger said the ship continues to represent values tied to the nation’s founding, including honor, courage, sacrifice, and service.

“What’s being preserved here is not only a ship but a set of values that really still matter,” he said, adding that understanding the USS Constitution’s history helps people understand what the vessel represents. 

And while the USS Constitution belongs to the country as a whole, Draeger said Boston maintains a particularly “strong sense of ownership” because of its origins and original presence in the city.

“[The USS Constitution] set up the world’s biggest and best, and I think that’s a lot like Boston — strong and resilient, punching above its weight,” he said. “That reputation of Old Ironsides really resonates with this city.”