America's Last Sailing Warship: USS Constellation from US Civil War 1854

[@nh7382]

My Grandfather sailed on the Constellation in 1897 his discharge papers stated that he was Honest, Trustworthy and Sober. I took my family to Baltimore in 1996 to see the ship, it was 104 degrees that day. It marked 4 generations of boys in my family that walked her decks!

[@bholdr----0]

Amazing. I love the continuity of the traditions of thw USN. My grandfather served in WW2 (and Korea, and Vietnam- through 1969), and the most interesting document i have from his service was from when he first crossed the line in 1942, and the Pollywogs had to attend King Neptune's Court and drunk seawater to become Shellbacks... Even in wartime... I think an attenuated version of that ceremony (minus the rough hazing: kissing the bosun's belly, etc) still happens.

[@thomashaik8217]

You my friend are one of the luckiest people in the world! I would give anything to be in your shoes!

[@gazzertrn]

Thats incredible , what history is really about when its part of your family .👍

[@kylegreenfield6020]

🌽🌽

[@eskee1]

Sounds good 👍. Way to go and own it above the rest of us. We feel excluded now and think its just a boat homies 😔 A boat with a mysterious past that nobody knows about!

[@EricCoop]

48% original wood is IMPRESSIVE! I served in USS CONSTITUTION as the XO during 2013-2015 and the estimates of original wood depends on who you ask. In the case of Old Ironsides, the estimates of wood original to 1797 is really dependant on who you ask. The breasthooks and sternhooks are original. The entire keel is original. The answer you get depends on who you ask. I personally think 15% since the ship has never been disassembled and the live oak frames tend to hold up well, especially in seawater. The aforementioned breasthooks and sternhooks are original and they are dry since they're inside the hull.

[@richardjohnson4365]

The USS Constitution is still in service in the Navy. She and the Arizona were the oldest in the Navy. Arizona was decommissioned recently, so they can name a new nuclear submarine

[@stephenseligman8484]

the Arizona was decommissioned on the 29th of December 1941

[@EricCoop]

Next USS Arizona will be a submarine. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Arizona_(SSN-803)

[@chrisb9960]

You were very polite in your assessment of the amount of original wood on the Constellation. I have seen reports and previous interviews stating in the 12% to 15% range as well.

[@HiOctane62]

Old Ironside is a Beast. The oldest ship on active service.

[@yusufinbentcreek]

I believe Bryan gave the most intelligent, comprehensive, articulate, informative interview/overview about any subject that I have ever heard, or read! Well done to all that produced this excellent video!

[@MrPlankinton]

Top-Notch Guide with Concise, uncomplicated explanations.

[@atlasmasterdmind4070]

This Guy is impressive in his knowledge to talk all important points. He knows his stuff.

[@DaxRandalman]

@@atlasmasterdmind4070 except that he’s wrong. Lmao.

[@uncbadguy]

Show up. Be nice. and KNOW YOUR STUFF!!! Follow those three little rules and your odds of being successful go way up there.

[@midriffzero]

Except for when he talks about the Army. He didn't get a single thing right about that.

[@atlasmasterdmind4070]

​​@@DaxRandalmanwell that's a personal point of view. What is he wrong about? He interviewed people about a ship 😂

[@atlasmasterdmind4070]

​@@midriffzerook well as a 24 year army vet ok. I agree, but the discussion was about a ship yes?

[@jerrystreet3928]

The best tour of an old ship I’ve ever seen 👍

[@darthnihilus511]

This guy is an excellent guide. Clear, attractive knowledgeable and a little bit of humor, the perfect host combo.

[@robertf3479]

I toured Constellation way back in 1975, she was looking pretty rough at the time. She was badly hogged and leaking badly. Her bow and stern really did sit visibly much lower to the water than her midships section by 3 or 4 feet. Part of the ballast along the keel was stone, it had the look of river gravel (rounded stones.) They actually had steel cables wrapped around part of the hull to hold her together and pumps running 24/7 to keep her from sinking at her berth. I understand that when she was finally moved from her berth to a drydock on the other side of the harbor in 1995 she almost sank while under tow. She obviously wasn't well cared for up to that point. It's good to see that she's being well taken care of now. She's a beautiful ship.

[@TheOfAnd]

Awesome info

[@brutusbarnabus8098]

The title is misleading, but the narrator clarifies by saying that USS Constellation was the last fighting tall ship BUILT for the U.S. Navy. He doesn't say it is the last one afloat as most of us are familiar with her older and more famous predecessor USS Constitution. USS Niagara is still afloat as well. She is a fast and beautiful 6th rate built in the same period.

[@charlesmaurer6214]

I literally signed on to make the same point. Plus the USS Constitution is in active duty and pre civil war and served then too. She also was the third ship of the name as the first Constellation was not US built but a prize of war renamed during the first Barbary war. While it may be an interesting video they need to proofread better. BTW The Constitution is the only currently active US warship to sink an enemy ship in her career.

[@TheSaturnV]

@@charlesmaurer6214 I love that the Constitution is sill on active duty and didn't know the part about that last bit you mentioned.

[@DouglasWilliams320]

I stand corrected

[@DS-182]

Exactly... the constitution set sail in Oct. 1797 and is the oldest floating commissioned vessel... and the navy has 53,000 acres of woods in Indiana just to repair it, when they did a major restoration in the mid 1970's they realized there was a shortage of white oak and did something about it

[@Techgnome21]

Sounds like the narrator needs to fix the title of the video.

[@austinformedude]

I binged every video with this gentleman. Very knowledgeable and easy to listen to!

[@dherman0001]

I was just on this ship in Baltimore Harbor. The wife kids bored to tears as i was exploring every square inch. You can go down to the ballast holds and see the original ballast and ship framing.

[@jp-ty1vd]

Talk about "living history".

[@shawn2789]

We should go together. The wife and kids never appreciate this kind of stuff.

[@abisaijorgevegaperez5289]

I had to make sure I went to the HMS Victory by myself so I could spend hours there. If I had gone with my family they would have been gone in less than 1 hour

[@dukx3986]

Some things are best done solo. I'd be the same way.

[@the_junk]

Truly OUTSTANDING presentation! Thank you!

[@user-wy1dl2me2p]

This guy knows his ships history Thank you ! Can listen for hours .

[@dukx3986]

​@DirkVaughan what part?

[@granthammond7617]

I made a dpnation to the ship, about 60 years ago, as a member of the USS Constellation CVA 64. Good to see the girl is still Live. BRAVO ZULU.

[@michaelannen4168]

My father did also and received a commemorative coin he said was good for a lifetime tour

[@pedenharley6266]

Wonderful tour of the ship. Thank you for sharing it!

[@markfrost2707]

My great great grandfather was the ship's designer/architect. William J. Frost

[@936anyst]

This is absolutely amazing!!! Blown away...

[@thereddye]

I'm always so taken aback when I hear the legendary Joshua Hanlon narrating over my ship tour videos because I'm hard-wired to hear his voice opening a beyond the brick episode 🤣

[@male42nfree]

What an outstanding ship, history lesson, tour, and video - thank you!

[@MartyBecker]

Wonderful tour.

[@justdustino1371]

My paternal grandfather's navy discharge paper indicated he did initial training on USS Constellation in 1911 before joining the crew of USS Florida. He fought in Vera Cruz as a member of "Florida's Battalion" in w 1914. He remarried to a younger woman, so my dad was born in 1950 and I was born in 1973. I lost the 1942 reissue of the 1916 discharge paper in hurricane Katrina. John "Jack" Joseph O'Connor, born 1893 in Kearney, NJ. That was my paternal grandmother.

[@justdustino1371]

Grandfather, spell check and auto fill mess up alot.....😆

[@karaDee2363]

Thank you for the awesome tour, it was very informative

[@jimgarner5574]

I reenacted the Constellation in the late 90’s with Larry Bopp. Thanks for clearing up so many questions we had about its age, construction, and history. Jim Garner

[@jim-me9wm]

Great tour and lecture, one of the best I've ever seen

[@callawaycrow5163]

Great tour! Good job on the video and the historian's knowledge is incredible. I could listen to him for hours.

[@ikay2102]

Great tour !!!! Wow, I didn't know half of info that guide was talking about. Thanks

[@timralston6379]

Incredible tour guide and educator!

[@MidN1t3SMD]

I was able to tour the ship in the heavy fog by myself last year. It was amazing

[@velchuck]

I learned so much! We in Maryland are so fortunate to have such a National Treasure! Well done on this video.

[@jp-ty1vd]

Fell's Point and Brown's Wharf were major ship building areas back in the day.

[@JimJonesKoolaid]

Brian Aur is an amazing expert and guide with these ships!

[@TheGreyGhost_of43rd]

The most contradicting and unrealistic guys I've ever seen in the industry. Incredibly pathetic

[@rossreed9974]

Watched all of your video tours and very much enjoyed them! I live in Pennsylvania and will definitely stop by the Baltimore Inner Harbour to see these ships in-person. THANK YOU for such a great series!

[@AdMan-The-LabRat]

15:01 Props to the Camera Operator brilliant work, you are the unseen key individual definitely made this video worth watching.

[@JiubeiKibagami]

Thank you so much! The curator is amazing, kudos to him! An absolute delight to listen to him. Thank you for the dedication!

[@burns1210]

I've lived near Baltimore my entire life, 50 years. I'm ashamed to say that although I've seen this ship hundreds of times, took the tour once or twice, I knew very little about its history. This video is fantastic, I was hanging on every word.

[@paulmoulin-l9w]

Loved this one! beautiful nature nicely captured! Huumori oli bonusta !!!

[@ronrobertson59]

In the 1979 when I was in the Coast Guard out of Curtis Bay MD USCG yard. We would tie up the 41 footer and go on board the Constellation at night and play cards with the with the reenacter crew.

[@donnagrandinetti9001]

I have been fortunate to have been aboard Her a couple of times, being a native Baltimorean. She's a Beautiful work of Art and Workmanship! Even on a class trip, She was AWESOME to see and learn about. Love to all who respectfully take care of Her Legacy, thank you ❤

[@psychosk8er]

I saw her a few years back. I got to help work the capstan to load a barrel onto her deck. Being able to roam her as freely as I did was really cool.

[@rp1645]

Thank you so much for walk through of that wonderful sailing ship with history 😊 Great tour guide.

[@knutanderswik7562]

Great job, this is a fantastic tour! Re the captain's head, it reminds me of medieval castle garderobes which look like fancy ornaments but are just projecting the pooper out beyond the wall, for obvious reasons 🤐🤐

[@EricCoop]

It's called the "Quarter Gallery." The CO sleeps on the starboard side because it is the burdened side. It's an ancient convention of discerning right of way that is codified to this day in the Collision Regulations, also known as the COLREGS, or Rules of the Road. When we navigate ships, or any vessel for that matter, the ship coming from starboard has the right of way. Thus the CO sleeps on the starboard side so if he gets awoken, he can see out the window how a risk of collision exists.

[@LoreTunderin]

I imagine those on duty would be extra attentive and careful to avoid a negligent collision if they know the people most affected by it, and most likely to witness it, will be the people in charge that have the authority and capacity to ruin your whole day.

[@dtroit2]

Incredible historian and guide.

[@davestelling]

I agree, very well spoken...

[@TheCrabbyGuy]

Fantastic talk! Very informative.

[@mythdusterds]

I never realized that A ship like this has survived because it was not in much combat and was a training vessel and that is why it has survived so long.

[@sirboomsalot4902]

Yeah, generally the ones that were used the least are the ones easiest to restore. Though it’s a bit unfair to say Constellation was only a training ship; she was quite successful in her time enforcing the ban on the importation of slaves, spent some time on the Union blockade of the Confederacy, and notably spent some time hunting Confederate raiders in the Mediterranean, which included taking part in the surrender of the CSS Sumpter

[@jeffreyerwin3665]

The Constellation does not sail anymore as far as I know. Thanks for the tour. I lived in Baltimore for several years and have been on this ship.

[@franwex]

I learned so much in the first 5 minutes of this video. Wow. I still have an hour and a half to go!

[@elijahhodges4405]

Excellent video. Well done. Thank you.

[@mikenuyen4441]

Thank you so much. I love older sailing ships. I built the Constitution model twice. (with and without sails, the big one) I learned many new things from this vid. thank you

[@TheA1carpetman]

Cheers for sharing Greg from Australia 🇦🇺

[@mikestirewalt5193]

What a pleasure to learn the answers regarding the hardware and procedures on sailing ships! Mr. Auer is really clear and quick with explanations and many interesting bits of history. Educational credits should be given for watching this one. Mr. Auer? Joshua Hanlon? Which one is which? Whichever one is the host, he did a good job by keeping quiet and letting the other person talk with interruption.

[@tombowman2154]

Excellent video, very informative. Thank you.

[@MrCmad1104]

You can’t control the way you laugh and Dogpool can’t help the way it looks. lol J/K love your content!!

[@TheHighSpaceWizard]

I love this ship! I've spent a lot of time on it when I was in the Navy and stationed at Fort Meade.

[@jamesmc4101]

Great tour and your ship has always been on my list to visit

[@fabilichusaquaman4263]

Wow this was nice and detail! Loved it. Time flew away!

[@AquaTech225]

That was awesome. Thanks for the upload

[@sparky5860]

Awesome tour and a Fantastic Curator……..

[@oalmikee1234]

Thanks again for all your hard work on this project 👍🏻

[@EricCoop]

The only form of democracy in the Old Navy (not the store, huh?) was in the gun crews. a typical gun crew would eat together. Each week, a gun crew of 14-15 Sailors would vote and elect a mess cook. This tradition exists to this very day. We typically assign the new check-in for 60-90 days as a Food Service Attendant (FSA). When I got commissioned in 2001, we called them, "Mess Cranks." It was actually decent duty because they were in a reasonable watch rotation, could eat more, and not on an assigned watch bill. On the topic of eating, and this dates back to the Age of Sail, I once monthly had to review the inventory of food we bought versus food we ate and ensure we were within CENTS of our allotted budget versus what we actually bought. The Navy ensures each Sailor gets their allotted amount of food and on a monthly basis, we account for it. This is why, to this very day, the end-of-the-month meals often include Ice Cream Night, Surf and Turf, and Sunday Brunch. They give us money to feed the ship's company and every last cent needs to be recorded as being offered to all hands.

[@dalemettee1147]

I took the tour of this ship many years ago. As a rather short person, I was surprised that even I had height concerns on the lower decks. In the bilge, there were gobble stones. They were used as ballast. Many of the streets back then were paved with these stones. A very bumpy ride back then. As a kid, I remember some of the streets in the older part of the city were paved with these stones.

[@josephpadula2283]

Cobble stones.

[@TheBub2015]

I did a retirement ceremony on that ship in 2015. It’s was a cool experience!

[@scotttafil7584]

Great job what a interesting tour

[@JohnTBlock]

You're a good man, Dan. Screw the haters, who don't do a quarter of what you do. Be at peace, sir!!😊

[@campfirecult4375]

Excellent video. Thank you. 🔥

[@huckwild1]

this is a fantastic watch i loved this

[@williamtownsend3279]

My great grandmother took me on board probably 20 times or more. I ended up joining the Navy and now live on a sailboat. Must have made an impression on me.

[@bholdr----0]

Thank you for covering the Constellation- The Constitution gets almost the press and KZbin content, vis. the oldest preserved US ships, and thus is relatively unknown (to non naval nerds like myself, anyway!). I enjoy this channel, especially the long-form content that isn't available elsewhere (without visiting the ships, anyway.) Cheers!

[@rahnlawson9463]

My Great Grandfather served on the Constellation. I have his discharge certificate. It states he was of Ruddy complexion with Ship on Chest.

[@kwd3109]

Wow! What a great bit of family history! I hope you visit the USS Constellation. Imagine how compelling it must be to stand on the very ship your Great Grandfather served on.

[@crazys8s]

*uss constitution* "AM I A JOKE TO YOU?!"

[@Methodizations]

95% of people these days can't name more then two generations above them. And you got documents detailing yours 200 years. That's pretty amazing. 😂

[@timtheskeptic1147]

Not to sound like I'm besmirching a fellow sailor, but that's Navy speak for a tattooed heavy drinker. (He and I probably would have hung out on liberty 🍺 🍻)

[@PaulCyclist]

Excellent content Many thanks

[@cleverusername9369]

That tour guide was INCREDIBLY dismissive of splinter wounds in the Age of Sail. Razor sharp shards of very heavy, dense wood flying at supersonic speeds wouldn't just cause injuries that require a band-aid. People were dismembered, disemboweled, and decapitated by splinters caused by solid iron shot. To say nothing of infections that occurred after injuries.

[@williamscroggins9627]

He’s not a very well informed tour guide. Much of what he says is not accurate. You are correct about the casualties caused by splinters. They were often quite large and caused serious injuries and deaths. He said the Captain’s cabin and the officers “wardrooms” were aft. What he meant was the officers staterooms. The wardroom was the officers dining area.

[@gyattrizz2024]

youre a nerd

[@HarryBalzak]

He also smacks his lips constantly. Bad guide is bad.

[@gaussian18]

I thought the same thing when he discussed the damage caused by solid shot. Bro clearly has not watched "Master and Commander"

[@landrum3893]

Mythbusters tested cannon shot and busted the flying splinter idea. The splinters were just not as dangerous as people think and were more of an infection threat than loss of limbs. However, an explosive shell (post 1850) could very easily propel wood splinters to dangerous speeds.

[@UriahGiles]

This gentleman does a great job telling about the age of fighting sail, in all but one point. At 21:00 he is describing what he is claiming to be the "lack of serious casualties" during a battle between ships firing only shot. Unfortunately he is very very wrong. Because of the age of books written by men who actually took part in the fighting done on ships like Constellation and older, they are out of print and therefore hard to find. The account of the injuries sustained by sailors on Lord Nelsons Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar, written by Frederick Marryat when he was a midshipman describes horrible wounds caused by flying pieces of oak shrapnel. He talks about the ships surgeon being busy performing multiple amputations for the duration of the fight. I also read an account of an English ship attacking a Spanish flagged ship and boarding it after it was captured and he describes the interior decks being awash in blood and how shocked he was that the majority of the crew had been killed outright.

[@AlanpittsS2a]

I ended up watching the entire video. Super cool

[@MattTee1975]

I'm glad he spoke of the controversy re: which ship it actually is, because when I was a kid and would visit it, we were always told that it was the frigate. Decades later, I brought my kids there when we were on vacation, and was confused to find that it was not the same ship I thought it was, and there was no real explanation given.

[@NomadHonch62x]

The sirens blaring at the start of this video are peak Baltimore ❤️

[@toadhill9750]

This guy is awesome!

[@complexgrafix]

Great video , more like this please!

[@Normanx964]

This is really great!

[@hmcghee33]

Brian is a modern marvel himself! This guy is amazing 👏🏼

[@hmcghee33]

I'm planning a trip to go see him soon if anyone has any connections

[@andywomack3414]

I was born an d grew up in and near Baltimore. I was able to visit and explore this ship in a time when there was no fee to board, and no restrictions on were a ten year old boy could roam about her. I would probably not be permitted to climb up to the fighting tops, but I had unrestricted access to the rest of the ship. I remember going down far enough into the hull to see the very bottom of the bilge and see the great timber called the keelson. I doubt that a ten year old boy would be permitted such a liberty today. At that time I was told this was the original "Constellation" built in the 1790's. After gaining some knowledge about warships by the time I was twelve I was puzzled by the rounded stern, as all the pictures of 18th and early 19th century sailing vessels showed a square transom. Then, much later I read an article in a maritime history magazine that shattered that mistaken impression. It was nice to think that my home-town had built this historic vessel and that now had a berth in Baltimore's inner harbor. Nicer still to know the truth of this magnificent vessel's history.

[@gph3364]

Than you for doing this! VERY interesting!

[@Couchflyer-NY]

This is so cool. I’ve visited the Constitution. Missed going to see the Constellation but built a model kit.

[@rareform6747]

Great Presentation .

[@ms-lazuli7435]

I'm a sailor on the 26-gun of 12-pdr French frigate l'Hermione (replica) and I'm still very impressed by this type of ship. She's a beautiful frigate, well done for keeping her.

[@hallmobility]

From reading Patrick O'Brien I learned that the Hermione became HMS Surprise in English service and was famously fast. The replica ship HMS Rose, famous for bringing in the Dread Pirate Roberts, used to be based in Connecticut but moved to the west coast and assumed the name Surprise following the Russell Crowe movie.

[@ms-lazuli7435]

@@hallmobility That's not quite true. HMS Surprise was a French frigate, but not l'Hermione, which was the Unité. It was more a sloop of war than a frigate. L'Hermione was launched in 1779 and sank in 1793 in France due to a bad pilot. The frigate crashed on the rocks known as the Plateau du Four. It is on the replica of this frigate that I sail. l'Hermione is much bigger than the HMS Surprise. Don't hesitate to read Richard Bolitho's adventures! They're exceptional! There are also the adventures of Hornblower, fantastic!

[@hallmobility]

@@ms-lazuli7435 Thank you for that! My account comes from the Patrick O'Brien series featuring Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin as main characters. Or my recollection of them. I have also read nearly all of C.S. Forester's Hornblower series, and one novel featuring Richard Bolitho. I actually started an alternative history based on the assumption that the war of 1812 begins in 1807, after the actual cassus bellum of HMS Leopard firing on USS Chesapeake. But while those sorts of books filled my boyhood, they are not the fashion now. It must be challenging sailing a square rigger. My sailing has been mainly racing in dinghies and keelboats. I still have my Thistle.

[@StrokerStevens]

I served on the USS Constellation CV-64 in the early 80's.

[@skiphyatt3034]

I think the gentleman knows his stuff. Thank you

[@williamgibb5557]

Visited the Inner Harbor and the ships there late April 2024. First time on a tall ship and what a great ship it is. Being 6ft + tall meant down below was constantly bent over for lack of headroom . She is in beautiful condition and wel maintained with on going work in the bottom storage . The captain's bath tub was interesting. The lighthouse ship also worth visiting just like the sub .

[@ryanellis7520]

The harbor place looks so dead. As a child, and all the way to adulthood it was elbow to elbow there every day/weekend. Now it’s empty of all retailers, and restaurants. I hope this doesn’t hurt the longevity of these ships. Great videos!

[@stevenshea990]

The harborplace pavillions are a dead mall, and are thankfully getting torn down and redeveloped into more modern commercial and residential, along with extra greenspace. The inner harbor itself has actually been pretty hopping this summer with the Orioles being not horrible the past two years

[@Symbian2704]

At 1:28:17 are those cracks in the beams right behind them?

[@plinkfuture2557]

Thank you! ❤

[@_DREBBEL_]

Incredible men worked on this incredible technology, giving us the life we live today. Let’s thank those men and Thank you for sharing, it’s truly amazing!! 🫡

[@2011mendo]

Not going to lie,,, I had to watch this twice to absorb it all. I promise, this has made my bucket list.. Next time the Rays play BAL, I am coming up.. Wish you guys could get those hotels to lighten u on their overzealous prices😅... BTW... my guess on the stoves position: was to have a heated area whe they were in cold waters... 😮..

[@mythdusterds]

I like the insights of saying even though it did not see much action it is a ship that saw a lot in the Mediterranean or doing the Slave Trade. Love the context of saying the crew saw a lot even if it was not much combat.

[@petezereeeah]

I went on this ship in the 90s. I'm 6'4". I was constantly leaning forward to avoid bonking by my head. People must have been short when this was built.

[@lutzderlurch7877]

1:29 Noticing a lot of the knees having broken and split apart :O

[@larspersson305]

This is so cool! If you ever visit Stockholm please visit the Wasamuseum.

[@FreezyAbitKT7A]

There is a city/village on the north shore of Newfoundland Canada named after those belay pins.

[@adamburnette]

I really like guys like this... many just strugg him off like whatever but this guy is really knowledgeable and passionate about what he knows and thats a rare thing. Im tipping like $100 minimum

[@bjornsmasher66]

i like how the guide rips down the stairs. guess he gets lots of practice. it gives us an example of how the real crew would be moving around.

[@soteful9949]

I like how in the thumbnail it shows him pointing at it. Thanks, I never would have realized it without you pointing it out.

[@edl617]

The US Navy needs at least 2 sail training ships like the constellation. One for each coast. Three would be nice. Do you know the USCG Eagle can make over 16 knots under full sail.