This is the battleship also known as "Old Ironsides". She was launched in 1797 and is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat in the world. She is docked now across the Charles River at the Shipyard, just a short walk from Boston's T North Station. It is running under winter hours which are Thursday through Sunday with the last tour beginning at 3:30. There is some refurbishing going on the the ship but tours are still being conducted.
As we boarded, my son wanted to know why it was called Ironsides if it is not made of iron (or was it?)
We asked our guide and he said no, it is not made of iron, but earned her name in the War of 1812. As he began to talk, many folks came up to hear the story of how she is made. She is actually made of three layers of pine with the inner layer being Live Oak-which was only available in the Southeast US at the time. As she was being bombarded during the War of 1812, it seemed as if the cannonballs were bouncing off. A sailor shouted "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!" And the name stuck.
2 comments:
What a history class for the kids!
yep! good stuff!
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