Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;1865King, post: 7783110, member: 103207&quot;]I don&#039;t know if any of you are aware but, many of the old sailing ships had coins placed under the main mast when the ships were built.&nbsp; They did it for luck.&nbsp;&nbsp; A few years ago the navy was renovating the USS Constitution at the Boston Navy Yard and part of the renovation was to pull out the main mast and either repair it or replace it.&nbsp; Under that mast were coins from when the ship was built in 1797 and other coins from the different times the mast was removed for repair or replacement.&nbsp; Those coins were always put back after the repairs were complete and are there today.&nbsp; So under the mast of the USS Constitution are coins dating back to the 1790&#039;s.&nbsp;&nbsp; There are pictures of the coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>I had a chance to go on the ship many years ago.&nbsp; For those who do not know the construction of USS Constitution was authorized&nbsp; by George Washington as well as 5 other ships of the same class but, only 4 were ever built.&nbsp;&nbsp; This is the oldest commissioned war ship in the US Navy and the world that is seaworthy and is still considered as part of the fleet.&nbsp;&nbsp; It went through a massive renovation many years ago and brought back to it&#039;s original specifications as when it was built.&nbsp;&nbsp; After being renovated they took her out into Boston harbor and raised her sail and let her sail under her own power for the first time in 100 years.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>The USS Constitution was almost scrapped a few times but, was finally saved in the 1920&#039;s.&nbsp; It&#039;s last actual combat use was during the Civil War.&nbsp; When the war broke out it sailed down the east coast to Annapolis Maryland to pick up the Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy and bring them up to Newport where the Naval Academy was relocated during the war.&nbsp; The Naval Academy prep school is still located in Newport.</p><p><br /></p><p>The USS Constitution is still maned and operated by the US Navy and if you visit the ship the men and woman you see in old style navy uniforms are actually in the navy.&nbsp;&nbsp; They are not actors.&nbsp;&nbsp; It&#039;s considered a high honor to be selected to join the crew.&nbsp; They do take the ship out in the harbor multiple times during the year.&nbsp;&nbsp; You can visit the ship at the Boston Navy Yard.&nbsp;&nbsp; [ATTACH=full]1335479[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in