Charlestown: The Constitution and Bunker Hill Monument

On Friday, February 24th the Ellett family visited the Charlestown sites on Freedom Trail: the U.S.S. Constitution, the Constitution Museum and the Bunker Hill Monument. It was a long and tiring day but it was fun and we learned a lot. We also got plenty of exercise.

We traveled into Boston by T-train as we usually do. To get to the Constitution, which was our first destination, we surfaced at North Station and walked over the Charlestown Bridge, following the line of the Freedom Trail. It was a nice day for February and we didn’t mind the walk. When we arrived at the museum we checked in and then went to pass through security in time to catch the next guided tour of the U.S.S. Constitution.

I hadn’t visited the Constitution since before 9/11 and the security arrangements were new to me. It had been even longer since Jennifer had last been on board. We had to pass through metal detectors like the ones at airports or Federal Courthouses. It might be a hassle in the summer when there are crowds but in February it was easy and the security personnel on duty were friendly and professional.

Once through security we boarded the ship and took the guided tour conducted by a petty officer serving on the Constitution’s crew. The Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat in the world. It is unlikely to happen but the ship could technically still be ordered to sea. It was fascinating to have a tour of the ship conducted by a man who has a connection to the naval traditions that stretch back to the days when the Constitution was a significant part of the United States Navy. We learned a bit about how the sailors lived and fought when were taken below to see the gun deck and the birth deck which can only be visited during a guided tour.

After we toured the ship we visited the Constitution Museum nearby. The museum offers a more complete look at what it was like to serve on board the Constitution and at what life in the United States was like in 1812 when the ship fought its most famous battles against British frigates. The newest exhibit was “All Hands on Deck: a Sailor’s Life in 1812” which explored what it was like for the men who served on the Constitution and for their loved ones left behind. It told the story of the ship through the biographies of some of the men who served on her. Much was explained in their own words using material drawn from journals and letters that they wrote. The real people whose stories were told included common sailors, marines and officers. They came from all walks of life and included minorities and recent immigrants who were important parts of the crew. There were many hands on activities to interest children and draw them into the exhibit and plenty to interest adults as well. We spent at least an hour in the exhibit and Maura could have spent more time there.

Both the U.S.S. Constitution and the Constitution Museum are free to visit. Both do request donations and depend on them for a significant part of their funding. For the museum the suggested donation is five dollars for adults and two dollars for children. In my opinion it would be worth paying more to visit this museum so be generous if you do.

After exploring the Constitution Museum we followed the Freedom Trail up Breed’s Hill to the Bunker Hill Monument, the granite obelisk that marks the site of the militia defended entrenchments that British regulars assaulted during the Battle of Bunker Hill. We left the nearby Bunker Hill/Charlestown Museum for another day but we did climb the 294 steps to the top of the monument. We did it because Maura wanted to, though Jennifer and I were both ready for a break. The view from the top was gorgeous but I’m not sure it was worth the pain in my knee. I was limping badly by the time I got down.

After climbing the monument we headed down the other side of the hill in the direction of the Community College T station, looking for a good place to have lunch. We found it in the Warren Tavern, a cozy old tavern built in 1780 and named for Dr. Joseph Warren who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. It was nice to sit down and the food was good. Lunch cost more than we could really afford but the prices were not unreasonable for a sit down restaurant in Boston. After lunch we continued on to the T-station and headed home, tired but happy after an enjoyable day.