Boston

USS Constitution's 2022 Sailing Season Begins With Double Gun Salute

Old Ironsides is the oldest commissioned warship that's still sailing

The USS Constitution sailing in Boston Harbor on Friday, May 20, 2022.
Handout

The USS Constitution took a trip around Boston Harbor on Friday, opening its 2022 sailing season.

The famed ship, known as Old Ironsides, departed Charlestown Navy Yard for Castle Island to fire a 21-gun salute visible from Fort Independence.

Later on, as the Constitution sailed past the U.S. Coast Guard station that stands on the site where she was built and launched in 1797, she was due to fire a 17-gun salute.

"Old Ironsides" sailed around Boston Harbor for its first topsails-down cruise in nine years.

The public was again able to take tours of the undefeated ship after she returned to her berth by 3 p.m.

Old Ironsides is the oldest commissioned warship that's still sailing.

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