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The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned ship in the [[United States Navy]], having served for more than 208 years.
The USS ''Constitution'' is the oldest commissioned ship in the [[United States Navy]], having served for more than 208 years.
==Construction==
==Construction==
The USS Constitution was one of six frigates whose construction was authorized by [[George Washington]] in 1794 to protect the growing American merchant fleet both from the "Barbary Pirate" states of [[Morocco]], [[Tunis]], and [[Tripoli]] and the still-powerful British [[Royal Navy]]. These six ships were each built in different cities; the contract to build the USS Constitution was given to Edumund Hartt's shipyard in [[Boston]].
The USS ''Constitution'' was one of six frigates whose construction was authorized by [[George Washington]] in 1794 to protect the growing American merchant fleet both from the "Barbary Pirate" states of [[Morocco]], [[Tunis]], and [[Tripoli]] and the still-powerful British [[Royal Navy]]. These six ships were each built in different cities; the contract to build the USS ''Constitution'' was given to Edumund Hartt's shipyard in [[Boston]].
It took three years to finish building the USS Constitution. Though her initial apportion was $115,000, her final cost was more than $300,000. It took some 2,000 trees to build her, including specialty woods cut from [[Maine]] and [[Georgia]]; her cannons were cast in [[Rhode Island]] and were fitted with copper fastenings from the prominent and prosperous craftsman, [[Paul Revere]]. She was finished on 10 October 1797, but it took a few attempts to launch her before she was commissioned, on 21 October 1797.
It took three years to finish building the USS ''Constitution.'' Though her initial apportion was $115,000, her final cost was more than $300,000. It took some 2,000 trees to build her, including specialty woods cut from [[Maine]] and [[Georgia]]; her cannons were cast in [[Rhode Island]] and were fitted with copper fastenings from the prominent and prosperous craftsman, [[Paul Revere]]. She was finished on 10 October 1797, but it took a few attempts to launch her before she was commissioned, on 21 October 1797.
==Early Service==
After being put to sea, she saw her first service patrolling the southeast coast of the United States and the West Indies, protecting merchant ships from French Privateers.
==references==
==references==
http://www.ussconstitution.navy.mil/
http://www.ussconstitution.navy.mil/