Imagine going to a school but your classroom wasn’t in a building but on board a warship ⚓️ During the American Civil War, USS Constitution took on a whole new mission: school ship at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. Even though steam ships were replacing sailing vessels, Academy midshipmen learned the art of rigging and seamanship on the decks of the iconic “Old Ironsides”. Future Naval leaders such as Charles Vernon Gridley, class of 1863, who would captain USS Olympia in the 1898 Battle of Manila Bay, was just one naval leader who benefitted from the lessons learned on board USS Constitution. The more you know ⭐️ #USSConstitution #OldIronsides #MaritimeHeritage #usnavalacademy #Sail250