"Old Ironsides" in Dry Dock 1

USS Constitution first entered Dry Dock 1 in 1833 as the first ship to test the new dry dock system, after the tough oak hull of “Old Ironsides” had already undergone several repairs. To rebuild the ship, woodworkers selected the best wood for each part, including longleaf yellow pine for decking and white oak for planking. Sawyers and hewers prepared the wood pieces, carpenters connected the hull pieces with wood treenails, caulkers sealed the hull with pitch and rope, and metal workers laid on sheets of copper to protect the bottom of the wooden hull. In 1992, USS Constitution entered Dry Dock 1 for an overhaul to prepare her for a third century of service, and despite her many repairs, a significant percentage of her original wood still exists below the water-line.

Cambridge, Massachusetts · United States