The Story of America's Finest Ship As Told by Three of Her Finest Historians On October 21st 1797, the 44-gun frigate Constitution slid down the ramp at Hartt's shipyard and into the chilly waters of Boston Harbor. While the workmen were proud of their efforts, no one-but NO one-thought she would still be serving her country 210 years later. Yet the Constitution remains afloat, having survived three wars, service on numerous distant stations, duty as a receiving ship, extended periods of neglect and decay, and occasional brushes with the breaker's yard. She has survived all those tribulations to become the oldest commissioned ship still afloat in the world, and a symbol of the heritage and pride our country. Her story is told in a series of 34 short essays by three of the country's leading experts on the USS Constitution's history: Charles E. Brodine, Jr., Michael J. Crawford and Christine F. Hughes of the Naval Historical Center in Washington, DC. Originally published as: Old Ironsides: An Illustrated Guide to USS Constitution, it is brought to a much wider audience in this Fireship Press edition