At the Tall Ships America Annual Conference in the first week of February, we were invited aboard the USS Constellation, one of the Historic Ships in Baltimore moored in the city’s Inner Harbor. An 1855 sloop of war, she was the last sail-only warship built by the United States Navy.
Constellation was armed with a battery of sixteen 8-inch (203 mm) shell-firing guns and four 32-pounder guns mounted on her gun deck in the main battery. On her spar deck, she carried a pair of chase guns: a 30-pounder Parrott rifle was placed in the bow and a 20-pounder Parrott rifle was placed in the stern. She also carried three 12-pounder boat howitzers.
The ship’s crew numbered 21 officers and 265 enlisted men. With a storied career of service during the Civil War, intercepting slave ships on the Atlantic coast, and as a training ship, she is now a National Historic Landmark. Having undergone substantial restoration work on her timbers in the last 20 years, she is today lovingly maintained by a dedicated and highly skilled crew that includes a former Matthew Turner shipmate.
The world of tall ships is a small, tight-knit community even though our ships are operating on both coasts, and the annual conference is a great opportunity to gather and share knowledge. Call of the Sea’s Board Member Alice Cochran, Education Manager Samantha Martinez, and I soaked up a lot of great ideas for engaging our young wannabe sailors onboard Seaward and Matthew Turner.
My key takeways—keep a close eye out for rotting timbers; take good care of your crew, and maybe Matthew Turner ought to have a cannon!
Carla Thorson
Executive Director
Winter is a crucial time to invest in the future of our ships and programs. A gift in February is especially appreciated, as it directly supports essential maintenance and educational program planning, contributing to our long-term stability. Donate today for a strong 2025 sailing season!
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