USS constitution

The USS Constitution enters the Charlestown Navy Yard. The ship sailed for the first time in 1797.

Alex Briere and Ian Robertson make renovations on the USS Constitution.

Steve Gillis and Jeff Gallagher work on the ship, which took its first cruise in 1798 from Boston to the Caribbean.

In the War of 1812, the ship defeated three British vessels, earning it the nickname ‘Old Ironsides.’

John Hinckley, a work leader on the project, stands aboard the USS Constitution.

Billy Rudek (left) and Bruce Caporal (right) work on the USS Constitution.

The restoration will be completed by a team of 40 workers.

The USS Constitution in the dry dock. It took 12 hours for crews to move the ship from the pier to the dry dock.

Between 1844 and 1846, the ship sailed more than 50,000 miles on a cruise around the world.

The restoration will be funded by The Navy and is expected to take between two and three years.

The restoration will focus on replacing more than 3,000 sheets of copper that cover the hull below the waterline.

The USS Constitution is the oldest warship still afloat, commissioned by the Naval Armament Act of 1794.

Old Ironsides in dry dock at the Charlestown Navy Yard. The ship was in use by The Navy from 1798 to 1854.

During its active years, Old Ironsides defeated 33 other vessels.

The USS Constitution is still open to the public on afternoons Tuesday through Friday and on weekends.