USS Constitution

The USS Constitution, often nicknamed "Old Ironsides," is a famous historic sailing ship. Launched in 1797, it is the oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat. The Constitution played a significant role in the early years of the United States, particularly during the War of 1812, where it earned its famous nickname during a battle with the HMS Guerriere. The cannonballs fired by the British seemed to bounce off its thick wooden hull, leading one of the American sailors to exclaim, "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!"

Today, the USS Constitution serves as a museum ship, docked in Boston Harbor. It's a symbol of America's naval heritage and is open to the public for tours. More than half a million visitors a year enjoy the fascinating glimpse into the ship's inner workings, including its crew quarters.

The Museum is accessible for wheelchair and scooter users. However, the ship itself has limited accessibility.

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More about the USS Constitution

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Restaurants near the USS Constitution >

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Tours of the USS Constitution

Boston Freedom Trail Self-Guided Tour with Audio Narration & Map	Boston	from $10
Freedom Trail Walking Tour 250	Boston	from $26
Boston Freedom Trail Walking Tour with Costumed Guide	Boston	from $26
Guided Freedom Trail Walking Tour	Boston	from $30
Boston: Freedom Trail History Small Group Walking Tour	Boston	from $44
Self Guided Classic Freedom Trail Location Aware (GPS) Walking Audio Tour	Boston	from $8
Boston's Food & History: North End, Freedom Trail, Beacon Hill	Boston	from $91

Restaurants near the USS Constitution

Authentic, flavorful options with great quality and value—perfect for casual dinners, business lunches, or refueling after visiting the historic USS Constitution and Navy Yard. A mix of mid-price favorites and upscale dining in Charlestown.

Name	Type & Description	Reserve at OpenTable
Warren Tavern	American / Historic *4.5 $$–$$$ 6 min walk (map) Historic tavern (est. 1780) where George Washington once dined. Serves hearty American classics, burgers, and pub fare in a warm, colonial atmosphere.	Reserve
Figs by Todd English	Mediterranean / Pizza *4.6 $$$ 8 min walk (map) Popular spot by celebrity chef Todd English offering wood-fired pizzas, Mediterranean small plates, and a lively neighborhood vibe.	Reserve
Monument	American / Contemporary *4.7 $$$ 9 min walk (map) Modern American restaurant with creative seasonal dishes, excellent cocktails, and a stylish yet comfortable setting in Charlestown.	Reserve
Anna's Taqueria	Mexican *4.5 $ 7 min walk (map) Fast-casual favorite known for generous burritos, tacos, and fresh ingredients at affordable prices. Great quick stop after visiting the ship.	Walk-in / no reservations
Mezza Lebanese Kitchen	Lebanese / Mediterranean *4.6 $$ 10 min walk (map) Fresh Mediterranean flavors with excellent falafel, shawarma, hummus, and grilled meats in a bright, casual setting.	Walk-in / no reservations
The Navy Yard Bistro	American / Bistro *4.5 $$–$$$ 4 min walk (map) Cozy bistro right in the Navy Yard offering salads, sandwiches, pastas, and daily specials with waterfront views.	Reserve
Sorelle	Bakery / Café *4.7 $–$$ 5 min walk (map) Charming bakery and café with fresh pastries, sandwiches, salads, and excellent coffee. Perfect for a light breakfast or lunch near the USS Constitution.	Walk-in / no reservations
Legal Sea Foods	Seafood *4.5 $$$ 12 min walk (map) Reliable Boston seafood chain serving fresh fish, lobster rolls, and clam chowder with harbor views from the Navy Yard area.	Reserve
Piperi Mediterranean Grill	Mediterranean *4.6 $–$$ 6 min walk (map) Fresh Mediterranean bowls, gyros, and salads with high-quality ingredients. Healthy and flavorful quick-service option.	Walk-in / no reservations
Charlestown Landing	American / Pub *4.4 $$ 8 min walk (map) Casual waterfront pub with classic American fare, craft beers, and great views of the harbor and USS Constitution.	Reserve

Trattoria Il Panino	Italian	North End	$$	*4.6
Monument Restaurant & Tavern	American	Charlestown	$$	*4.8
Gordon Ramsay Burger - Boston	Burgers	Faneuil Hall	$$	*4.2
Boqueria Seaport	Spanish	Seaport	$$
Euno Ristorante	Italian	North End	$$$	*4.8
Ocean Prime - Boston Seaport	Steak	Seaport	$$$	*4.8
Wicked Craft Co.	American	North End	$$$	*4.4
Tresca	Italian	North End	$$$	*4.8
Libertine	Italian	North End	$$$	*4.4
Lucca North End	Italian	North End	$$$	*4.5
Row 34 - Seaport \| Boston	Seafood	Seaport	$$$	*4.8
Trade	Greek	Seaport	$$$
Eddie Merlot's Prime Aged Beef & Seafood - Boston	Steakhouse	Seaport	$$$$	*4.7
Mastro's Ocean Club - Boston	Seafood	Seaport	$$$$	*4.8

Hotels near the USS Constitution

citizenM Boston North Station	North Station / West End	$$	Scored 8.8*
The Kendall Hotel at the Engine 7 Firehouse	Kendall Square, Cambridge	$$	Scored 9.0*
Cambria Hotel Boston Logan Airport	Airport	$$
Inn at St. Botolph	Back Bay	$$	Scored 8.8*
Sheraton Boston Hotel	Back Bay	$$	Scored 8.4*
Courtyard Boston Downtown/North Station	North Station / West End	$$	Scored 8.8*
The Bostonian Hotel Boston	Downtown / Faneuil Hall	$$	Scored 7.6*
Element Boston Seaport District	Seaport	$$	Scored 8.2*
Fairmont Copley Plaza	Back Bay	$$	Scored 8.4*
Cambria Hotel Boston Downtown - Seaport	Seaport	$$	Scored 8.0*
Hilton Boston Back Bay	Back Bay	$$	Scored 7.7*
W Boston	Downtown	$$	Scored 8.4*
Revere Hotel Boston Common	Downtown	$$	Scored 8.4*
Hotel Ivy Boston Common	Downtown	$$	Scored 8.0*
The Lenox	Back Bay	$$	Scored 9.0*
Renaissance Boston Seaport District	Seaport	$$	Scored 8.2*
Courtyard by Marriott Boston Downtown	Downtown	$$	Scored 7.9*
Wyndham Boston Beacon Hill	Beacon Hill	$$	Scored 7.3*
Aloft Boston Seaport District	Seaport	$$	Scored 8.1*
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston - Downtown	Theater District	$$	Scored 8.4*
citizenM Boston Back Bay	Back Bay	$$	Scored 9.0*
Hilton Boston Park Plaza	Theater District / Downtown	$$	Scored 7.4*
Club Quarters Hotel Faneuil Hall, Boston	Downtown / Financial District	$$	Scored 8.4*
Eurostars The Boxer	North End	$$	Scored 7.8*
Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport	Seaport	$$	Scored 8.7*
YOTEL Boston	Seaport / Waterfront	$$	Scored 8.3*
The Westin Boston Seaport District	Seaport	$$	Scored 8.5*
Moxy Boston Downtown	Downtown	$$	Scored 8.0*
Hampton Inn Boston Logan Airport	Airport	$$	Scored 7.6*
Hampton Inn Boston Seaport District	Seaport	$$	Scored 8.4*
The Revolution Hotel	Back Bay	$$	Scored 8.5*
Hyatt Place Boston/Seaport District	Seaport	$$	Scored 8.9*
The Godfrey Hotel Boston	Downtown	$$	Scored 9.0*
The Westin Copley Place, Boston	Back Bay	$$	Scored 8.4*
Hilton Garden Inn Boston Logan Airport	Airport	$$	Scored 8.6*
InterContinental Boston by IHG	Waterfront	$$	Scored 8.8*
Hyatt Regency Boston	Downtown	$$	Scored 8.5*
Boston Marriott Cambridge	Kendall Square, Cambridge	$$	Scored 8.3*
Lark Hotels 907 Main	Central Square, Cambridge	$$	Scored 8.0*
Residence Inn by Marriott Boston Cambridge	Kendall Square, Cambridge	$$	Scored 8.7*
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Boston Cambridge	East Cambridge, Cambridge	$$	Scored 8.4*
Hampton Inn by Hilton Boston/Cambridge	East Cambridge, Cambridge	$$	Scored 8.3*
Norfolk House	Inman Square, Cambridge	$$	Scored 7.5*
Kimpton Marlowe by IHG	East Cambridge, Cambridge	$$	Scored 8.7*
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Boston - Cambridge by IHG	East Cambridge, Cambridge	$$	Scored 7.8*
Hampton Inn by Hilton Boston/Cambridge	East Cambridge, Cambridge	$$	Scored 8.3*
Courtyard by Marriott Boston Cambridge	Cambridgeport, Cambridge	$$	Scored 8.2*
Boston Marriott Cambridge	Kendall Square, Cambridge	$$	Scored 8.2*
Courtyard by Marriott Boston Cambridge	Cambridgeport, Cambridge	$$	Scored 8.2*
Hotel Commonwealth	Fenway	$$$	Scored 8.9*
Courtyard by Marriott Boston Logan Airport	Airport	$$$	Scored 7.7*
Boston Marriott Long Wharf	Waterfront	$$$	Scored 8.5*
Boston Marriott Copley Place	Back Bay	$$$	Scored 8.7*
Copley Square Hotel, a FOUND Hotel	Back Bay	$$$	Scored 7.9*
Boston Omni Parker House Hotel	Downtown	$$$	Scored 8.3*
The Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Boston	Beacon Hill	$$$	Scored 8.1*
enVision Hotel Boston-Everett	Everett	$$$	Scored 8.2*
The Langham, Boston	Downtown	$$$	Scored 9.2*
Residence Inn by Marriott Boston Downtown Seaport	Seaport	$$$	Scored 9.1*
Hotel AKA Back Bay	Back Bay	$$$	Scored 8.8*
The Envoy Hotel, Autograph Collection	Seaport	$$$	Scored 7.6*
Marriott Vacation Club® at Custom House, Boston	Downtown	$$$	Scored 9.2*
Pennyweight Hotel Boston, Curio Collection by Hilton	West End	$$$	Scored 8.2*
The Dagny Boston	Downtown	$$$	Scored 9.0*
Embassy Suites Boston at Logan Airport	Airport	$$$	Scored 8.3*
Hotel AKA Boston Common	Downtown	$$$	Scored 8.3*
The Eliot Hotel	Back Bay	$$$	Scored 9.0*
Hilton Boston Logan Airport	Airport	$$$	Scored 8.2*
Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor	Airport / Harbor	$$$	Scored 8.5*
Hotel Indigo Boston Garden by IHG	North Station / West End	$$$	Scored 8.5*
Battery Wharf Hotel, Boston Waterfront	North End / Waterfront	$$$	Scored 8.3*
Residence Inn by Marriott Boston Harbor on Tudor Wharf	Waterfront	$$$	Scored 8.8*
The Royal Sonesta Boston	East Cambridge, Cambridge	$$$	Scored 8.1*
Harvard MIT Cozy retreat with permit Parking close to Subway	Central Square, Cambridge	$$$
Cambridge Apartment	Inman Square, Cambridge	$$$	Scored 7.3*
Mandarin Oriental, Boston	Back Bay	$$$$	Scored 8.8*
Good Hotels Boston	Downtown	$$$$	Scored 7.8*
The Four Seasons (Boylston Street)	Back Bay	$$$$	Scored 9.0*
The Ritz-Carlton, Boston	Downtown	$$$$	Scored 8.5*
Raffles Boston	Back Bay	$$$$	Scored 9.1*
The Whitney Hotel Boston	Beacon Hill	$$$$	Scored 9.1*
Boston Harbor Hotel	Waterfront	$$$$	Scored 9.1*
Courtyard Boston Copley Square	Back Bay	$$$$	Scored 8.7*
Seaport Hotel® Boston	Seaport	$$$$	Scored 9.1*
The Newbury Boston	Back Bay	$$$$	Scored 9.0*

Handicap Accessibility – USS Constitution & Charlestown Navy Yard

USS Constitution Museum: Fully wheelchair accessible with ramps at the entrance and an elevator connecting both floors of exhibits. Wheelchairs, scooters, and strollers are welcome inside the museum.
Wheelchair Loan: Free wheelchairs available for loan (first-come, first-served) at the Museum Admissions Desk. These can be used inside the museum and taken out into the Navy Yard grounds.
USS Constitution Ship: Limited accessibility. Wheelchair users can access the top (spar) deck only via a gangway/ramp — access is tide-dependent and may be too steep at certain times. Wheelchairs, walkers, scooters, and strollers are not allowed below deck and must be left on the pier. Lower decks have steep ladders and are not accessible.
Navy Yard Grounds & Pathways: Mostly flat, paved pathways throughout the Charlestown Navy Yard. Wide, accessible routes connect the museum, ship pier, and visitor areas.
Restrooms: Wheelchair-accessible restrooms with ADA-compliant stalls are available in the USS Constitution Museum (first floor) and at other Navy Yard public facilities.
Service Animals: Welcome in the museum and Navy Yard grounds.

Tips: The historic ship (launched in 1797) has inherent limitations due to its age and design. Plan to visit the fully accessible museum for exhibits and restrooms. Check tide conditions and current boarding status on arrival, as wheelchair access to the top deck is not always possible. Staff at the museum are helpful and can provide guidance.

Restrooms Near USS Constitution (Charlestown Navy Yard)

Location	Distance / Walk Time	Details / Hours	Notes / Accessibility
USS Constitution Museum	On-site / < 1 min	Clean public restrooms on the first floor of the Museum. Family restroom available upon request at the Admission Desk. Open during museum hours: daily 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.	Fully wheelchair accessible (ramps and elevator). Wheelchairs available for free loan (first-come, first-served) at the Admissions Desk — can be used in the museum and Navy Yard grounds.
Charlestown Navy Yard Public Restrooms (NPS / Harbor facilities)	On-site / 1–3 min	Public restrooms in the Navy Yard area (near visitor areas and pier). Includes options at HarborView at the Navy Yard (250 First Ave) and nearby buildings. Generally open daily from early morning to evening.	Wheelchair accessible stalls available. Ground-level access in most areas. Good backup during busy ship visiting hours.
One Constitution Center	3–5 min walk	Restrooms in the office/retail building at 2 Constitution Plaza. Open roughly Monday–Friday 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM (limited weekend access).	Wheelchair accessible stalls and gender-specific bathrooms. Ground floor access — convenient when the museum is crowded.
USS Constitution Ship (onboard)	On the pier / boarding	No public restrooms onboard the historic ship. Visitors must use facilities on the pier or in the museum before boarding.	Ship itself is not fully ADA compliant. Wheelchair access limited to the top (spar) deck only, weather and tide dependent. Steep gangway and ladders below deck — not suitable for wheelchairs, walkers, or strollers.
Nearby MBTA Station (Community College or North Station via ferry/bus)	8–15 min	Public restrooms at nearby T stations or ferry terminals. Check real-time status.	Generally wheelchair accessible via elevators. Useful if arriving by public transit.

Tips: The USS Constitution Museum is the most reliable and accessible restroom option in the immediate area. The ship itself has very limited accessibility due to its historic 1812 design — plan to use pier/museum facilities before boarding. Wheelchairs can be borrowed from the museum for use in the Navy Yard grounds. Navy Yard paths are mostly paved and flat. Arrive early on busy days to avoid lines.