I made the effort to visit Old Ironsides while in Boston… Security is remarkably tight these days - you need to show a photo ID and go thru a scan (remove your belt) before gaining entry to the ship. My young kids wondered aloud why I had to show my driver’s license to board - I told them it was needed in case I wanted to drive the ship… There is an in-depth tour that starts before regular hours and gives you access to the deep recesses of the ship, however it is only offered on Tuesday mornings (during peak season). Unfortunately I had a conflict and couldn’t make that work…
Once they decided my family was intending no harm we went ahead and joined the standard 30 minute tour which includes the gun and berth decks. (You are allowed to roam freely on the spar deck without a guide)
New deck planking with a bit of camber added.
Two elevation styles on the carronades
The waist bulwarks were cut down and the railing restored
The “Don’t Tread On Me” jack was not contemporary with the War of 1812 period… She flies it because she is a commissioned Navy warship and the Secretary of the Navy directed that all U.S. Navy ships raise the historic Jack beginning on Sept. 11 and continue to do so throughout the global War on Terrorism:
She looks great and is well worth a visit if you find yourself in Boston town,