USS Constitution, world's oldest commissioned warship afloat, sails for America's 250th anniversary
🇺🇸 Happy Independence Day from USS Constitution! 🇺🇸
— USS CONSTITUTION (@USSConstitution) July 4, 2026
USS Constitution, the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, got underway in Boston Harbor today to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
Happy Birthday, America! pic.twitter.com/hLSowM4CsY
WASHINGTON, DC: The USS Constitution sailed through Boston Harbor on Independence Day, bringing the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat into America's 250th anniversary celebration.
The voyage put a living piece of US naval history on the water for the milestone.
USS Constitution marks America's 250th birthday
"Happy Independence Day from USS Constitution!" a post from the ship's X (formerly Twitter) read on Saturday, July 4.
"USS Constitution, the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat, got underway in Boston Harbor today to celebrate America's 250th birthday," the post added.
“USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned ship in the United States Navy, with naval officers and crew still serving aboard today,” as per the National Park Service (NPS) website.
The visitors “can also hear the ship's cannon fire daily at 8 am and sunset,” the NPS stated.
The ship is operated by the United States Navy, which is a partner to the National Parks of Boston. The Naval History and Heritage Command, Detachment Boston, is responsible for the vessel's maintenance, repair and restoration.
Across the pier from Constitution in Building 22 is the USS Constitution Museum, which allows visitors to explore how the ship was built, sailed, and preserved, as per the NPS.
USS Constitution previously sailed in June in honor of the Battle of Bunker Hill
The July 4 trip was not the ship's only special voyage tied to America's early history.
USS Constitution previously took a "special sail" in June in honor of the Battle of Bunker Hill, according to WCVB 5ABC News.
While the ship "sails out into Boston Harbor several times each summer," that special sail included a "21-gun salute off Fort Independence on Castle Island," along with a “17-gun salute as she passes US Coast Guard Base Boston,” according to the outlet.
The ceremonial voyages keep the historic warship active in Boston Harbor rather than confined to the pier, with the July 4 sail giving the ship a visible role in the United States' 250th birthday celebrations.
