Home › Old Ironsides › Old Ironsides

Old Ironsides

The good ship Constitution was built by order of Congress to fight the pirate ships of Algeria. She was built in Boston, and was designed to be a little bigger and a little better than any other fighting ship of her kind afloat.

The Constitution was made of the best material and with the greatest care. Workmen searched the lumber-yards of the South for oak, cedar and pine.

Paul Revere, who made the famous midnight ride, furnished the copper. It took three years to build the frigate, and, when she was done, her timbers had seasoned until they were hard as iron.