Historic Ships in Baltimore

We had a great time with our grandson, touring 4 ships and a bonus tall ship from Argentina. The pricing for four ships is $ 16 for seniors with a major discount for military veterans. Our grandson, who is not yet 5, was free.
Being able to tour one of the oldest, if not the oldest ship in the US Navy, the Constellation, to a retired Lightship, a diesel submarine and a USCG Cutter made for a great day for all of us. The best tour of them all was the Constellation and since it was not very crowded we got a lot of information from the docents as well as the information posted all over the ship. On the submarine USS Torsk we received information from people who actually served on this type of submarine. It is hard to imaging 80 people living and working on this boat in minimal space.
The Lightship was quite interesting along with the CG Cutter which saw action at Pearl Harbor. Touring was a bit difficult with a 5 year old but he couldn’t get enough of the different ships. Some stairs/​ladders are quite steep so you need to be careful.
We also managed to tour the lighthouse that had been moved from its location on the harbor entry. Hard to imagine 3 people living for extended periods of time in such close quarters.

Who knew learning history could be so much fun on the high seas. Well ok it wasn’t really high seas as all the ships were docked. There is a little bit of everything for everyone here. There are old wooden from the 1700s (USS Constitution) to WWII submarines (USS Torsk SS-​423) to the last surviving ship from the Attack on Pearl Harbor (USCGC Taney). Did you read that? The LAST surviving ship from December 7, 1941 when the United States was attacked and this ship was there. Maybe it is just me but that gives me chills as my grandfather served on a ship in the Pacific in WWII.
The tours are great and I would definitely encourage anyone to try one out to feel and be part of history. We hear stories but you can immerse yourself in the lives of those who have served in the past. The tour guides are great and go beyond to paint a picture. Their knowledge is not some Wiki stuff looked up but includes stories from some who actually served onboard these ships.

We have company for a few days as one of my wife’s three kids is visiting us, on a work trip. We had Saturday to play, so we walked from our home to the Inner Harbor. We noticed a new ship in the harbor, and it is amazing! Majestic and full of so much detail. There is a submarine that served our country in WW2, several ships, and on occasion a visitor ship. Oh, we even have cruise ships use our Harbor as a starting point for cruises… but that is not historic. lol. Next time, I am taking the tour.
Yesterday what caught our eye was a visiting beautiful three mast old ship. If you are at the Inner Harbor… check out an amazing piece of history.

Enjoyed this one with the family. We took our time and a good look through two ships (Constellation & Torsk) was plenty although three was the goal. We got to the Taney just before closing (didn’t realize!) and missed out but plan to do it another day. The walking audio tour was nice, the kids each got theirs and we got ours. The signs are sometimes hard to find, though. Also, there was a discrepancy between the posted website closing times, what the staff said, and what the sign on the ticket office window read, so call ahead of time OR visit early in the day, and plan to finish up at least one hour before the listed time. The Taney apparently closes at 4p even the website and sign said 5p (they both actually agreed on this one) and a couple coming out was locked in until someone eventually let them out, lol. They thought it closed at 5p, too. They were good sports about it.
Anyway, I definitely recommend this for homeschoolers and families. Pick a nice day and go.

Amazing floating museum and a magnificent way to dress up and draw in people to a harbor!

We went in the US Torsk, which was entertaining and educational. My husband is a sucker for military history, and so this visit was more for him than it was for me. Despite this, I had a good time and enjoyed the visit.
I really liked being able to go into the submarine. It was exciting to explore what it might have been like to be stuck in there. There was lots of reading to do — other people kept pushing past or wanting you out of the way so it was difficult to read everything.
I would STRONGLY recommend they put together an audio tour of some kind to give people highlights and pace the tour a bit better. Something like what they do at Alcatraz in SF would be perfect, or even something free online you could download onto your phone and play for yourself while you go through.
Very much enjoyed it!

We really enjoyed the tours. The only downside was the super slow service at getting the tickets.

This is a great activity for a day at the Inner Harbor and provides at least 4 hours of entertainment if you do all hour ships… so really it’s a great deal considering the price of a movie ticket nowadays! You can also do the ships at your leisure so if you feel like breaking for lunch, etc it’s easy to do!
We got the ticket for all 4 ships (plus the lighthouse, which we unfortunately didn’t go to see). A tip: if you’re thinking of taking the water taxi at all that day, do that first and buy the full day pass… they hand out coupons with the full day pass that include one for seeing 4 of the historic ships for the price of 2 (I think… or maybe it was even one).
All four ships were fascinating… I think the USS Constellation was my favorite but in my opinion it’s worth it to make your way through all of them. If you’re lucky they may have a volunteer historian on board in which case definitely don’t be scared to ask questions! The labeling on some of the ships is not as comprehensive as on others so asking directly is a great way to learn more!
Overall, I think this is one of my favorite tourist attractions in Baltimore. The only caveat I would provide is that you DON’T go if you have children who struggle with stairs (some of the stairs are steep and wouldn’t be much fun to carry a child down or are a person who might struggle with stairs, small spaces, or climbing through doorways (especially on the submarine). If those don’t apply to you, though, this is a must-​see!

These are an awesome piece of history. I went here for a photo project for class, and it was incredible. There were so many cool nooks and crannys to look at and photograph, and the staff were really nice and accommodating.

Historic Ships of Baltimore… fun for land lovers and Sea lovers!
First off Ships is plural for a reason… there are 4 total ships that kept in the inner harbor. USS Constellation — Civil War era ship, US Torsk — Submarine, US Taney WW2 era coast guard ship and the Lightship Chesapeake.
they offer individual tickets or tickets where you can see 2 – 4 ships at a reduced rate… the day we went we say 2 ships (Constellation and Taney) Both were great, well preserved and very informative! The prices are good, it was $ 14 for two ships… not bad at all!
The Constellation is the jewel of the 4 ships, well preserved, and super cool to walk through all 4 decks. From the top deck all the way to the storage area you see how people ate, slept, worked and had fun! You can do the whole ship in about 1.5 hrs so its not an all day thing, but once inside the ship you almost feel like you want to be out at sea and experience the Constellation life first hand!
The second ship was the USS Taney which is located behind the hard rock near pier 5 so you wont see it from the constellation, but its not a far walk. The Taney is a WW2 coast guard ship which is really interesting especially when you visit it after the Constellation. You see the difference in design, technology and living. Overall the Taney was great, it is not a war ship (carrier or battleship) so you wont find all the guns and ammo, but you see the way they lived while on the ship and the society does a good job of allowing you to view the ship in the sailors eyes. The Taney can be completed in about 1 hr as well, so in about 3 hours you can do the Taney and Constellation… which is perfect timing for a lunch or drink break in the inner harbor!
Overall the Historic Ships of Baltimore offer you different windows into different eras. They allow you a big step back in time or a little skip. The Constellation is the jewel of the group but the other 3 ships are great and well worth the visit and time and I will be back to visit the other two and hopefully take another trip back in time.
Cheers, enjoy and Land Ho!

This VERY cool maritime museum in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is a treat for history buffs, boaters, and kids (young and old) who dream of sailing the high seas in search of the Dread Pirate Roberts. And at just $ 18 a person, it’s one of Baltimore’s best sightseeing values.
The highlight of this four-​ship collection is the restored USS Constellation, a Civil War-​era frigate that first hoisted its sails in 1854. The tour gives you access to the topdeck and 3 decks below, where you can see cannons, crew bunks, the sickbay, and the officers’ cabins. An adjoining museum highlights the ship’s history and some of the combat it saw during more than a century of service. Give yourself at least 30 minutes for the tour, and maybe close to an hour if you really want to immerse yourself.
After a visit to the Constellation, head over to the Torsk, a WWII submarine that will give you an unparalleled look at combat in the Atlantic theater. Getting around this cramped vessel can be a bit challenging, but will give you a new appreciation for what submarine crews experienced in the 1940s. The Torsk was undergoing renovation work the day I visited, but I don’t think that would’ve made a difference in the number of compartments available to see.
The third ship was a lightship from the 1920s, appropriately named ‘Chesapeake’. Not nearly as interesting as its two predecessors, but worth the $ 4 price for an upgraded ticket. That upgrade also buys you a visit to a Coast Guard cutter that apparently saw action in Pearl Harbor, but business was calling, and I didn’t have a chance to board this last ship. I’d estimate you can easily visit all four in the span of 90 minutes, unless you really care to linger.
All said, this was a fantastic experience, and I’m looking forward to coming back sometime with our kids. These Historic Ships are a MUST if you ever drop anchor in Baltimore.

Admittedly I was not the most pumped about walking in 20 degree weather (LA has spoiled me) to tour some boats… but I’m so glad I did! If you have AAA you can get a ticket for all four boats for the price of one, $ 11. We didn’t have much time since we needed to catch a flight, but toured the USS Constellation and USS Torsk. The Constellation was a frigate and you could go down through all of the different decks to see the cannons and the various bunk rooms where the crew slept. It was amazing to go all the way to the bottom deck and see close-​up how the boat is held together. Twice a day, the Constellation also fires a massive gun that can be heard echoing around the inner harbor!
The USS Torsk is a submarine and we did not nearly have enough time before our flight to really tour this properly. Each room has so much to look at! The torpedo rooms are obviously awesome, but the engine room, navigation room, bunk area, etc, are all really interesting. It’s pretty wild how much can be packed into such a cramped space!
There’s no time limit and occasionally there are guided tours. The Constellation also has an audio guided self-​tour if you prefer. All of the ships are all conveniently located around the inner harbor, close to lots of hotels and chain restaurants (as well as some tasty crab places).

This was AWESOME!
I know I looked at these ships as a kid and thought they were cool but they were still cool as an adult!
We bought the bundle and did all the ships and wow. Just cool.
They can be a little hot when walking around each one in the summer but absolutely worth it.
Don’t forget to stop by on your trip to the inner harbor!

Very awesome stop if you’re in the Inner Harbor. I wouldn’t go out of my way to go to just this — but if you’re in the Inner Harbor it is worth a stop.
They have tours and you are allowed to go below deck on the USS Constellation which is pretty awesome. The tickets are pretty reasonable and the staff is pretty informed.

Very cool stop in the Inner Harbor!
Tickets are about $ 11 and you get to see a small exhibit inside a building, then tour through the ship pretty freely. I liked that there wasn’t a time limit and no tour guide – you can go at your own pace, read the signs (or not, like me, and just take a million pictures looking out from the gulleys or whatever they’re called). It’s a beautiful ship, about 4 levels altogether. We kept going down, down, down, and it got darker and smellier and shorter at each level.
There are several demonstrations given each day of the deck of the ship – tacking, raising sails, life at sea, stuff like that – that looked interesting and interactive. We got there right as one was ending and didn’t manage to stay long enough to see the next one. There’s a schedule on the board out front, so walk by early in the day and see if something catches your eye.
I would definitely recommend this during a trip to Baltimore. So pretty!

When it comes right down to it… I’m a bit of a nerd-​especially when it comes to history. I love museums, I love historical landmarks, and I especially love learning about military history-​and have since I was a little kid… so I love the big ships in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. My Dad was in the Navy and he brought us to many places where I was in awe and my brothers were bored out of their minds.
The tour of the USS Constellation (the last sailing ship commissioned by the Navy) is really cool as the ship is in excellent shape thanks to extensive renovates and repairs over the years. Another excellent tour is of the USS Torsk, a WWII submarine. If you’ve never been on a sub, you will soon understand why it took a certain type of guy to serve on one. After making over 10,000 dives, this little sub was decommissioned in 1972.
There are two other cool ships in the harbor, but I have yet to really check them out… the Chesapeake was a lighthouse ship (which I had never heard of) and the US Coast Guard cutter Taney. My Uncle once told he that he served on this ship when he was in the CG serving in NJ, but I think he was pulling my leg a bit. Anyway, even if you aren’t a military history buff, these ships are pretty cool.

This is a great tour to learn about naval history (and U.S. too) and classic ships.
On summer days, wearing shorts is highly suggested. We wore denim and almost died of heat.
Also, purchase tickets in bundle to save. Overall, an awesome time at the Baltimore Harbor.

If you’re down here, this is a great ship to tour. We go once a year at least, and we always have a good time. It’s very family oriented.
If you also happen to be here for Otakon and are dressed like a pirate (for example, One Piece) this is a nice boat to take pictures near. (I know from experience.)

A great visual of our maritime past. & a unique part of our Civil War history!
Easy to view from the Baltimore Harbour.

An excellent piece of Americana located in one of the worlds most renown ports, and historically a piece of history dating back to the time of the American Civil War.
Tours are offered and they’re not too expensive. There is a large scenic view from the top deck. I went in the middle of the day and there myself and two families, which their children seemed very interested in the history of the boat. So check off the, Is it good to bring my family to list? That’s a simple, yes!