USS Constitution ('Old Ironsides') and its nickname

USS Constitution, moored at the Charlestown Navy Yard and accessible from 1 Constitution Rd, is the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat and is maintained by the U.S. Navy. The ship earned the nickname 'Old Ironsides' during the War of 1812 after observers reported British cannonballs appeared to bounce off her hull; that episode is recorded in contemporary accounts and became a central element of naval lore. The vessel and related exhibits draw visitors interested in early U.S. naval history and the ship's storied reputation.