historic ships in baltimore

From the Constellation, a Civil War brig, to a fireboat to a WW2 submarine, the Torsk, spend an afternoon clambering ladders on these ships.

I love going on all the ships in the inner harbor. We spent hours doing this. The people are fun and nice. Leave plenty of time to look around and ask the employees questions! Check for special promotions.Practically speaking, these are all located within easy, flat walking distance, and are basically next to the aquarium (which is an absolute must see). If you start early and had a nice day, you could do them all place the aquarium if you hustle.If there is any chance of rain, bring an umbrella and good shoes. It sure seems to get soggy on a wet day (or slushy on snowy days). Likewise, it gets hot as heck in the summer - be prepared.

I was disappointed the tall ship wasn't there (currently in maintenance in a dry dock), but the light ship/submarine/cutter tours were good. The submarine tour would've been much better if it had included the CONNING tower, but the boat was in good condition and my 3 year old LOVED it.

These are really big ships with a lot of history behind them if you use the water taxi they will give you coupons for the ships so check the water taxes before buying tickets.

USS Torsk is a submarine that looks so cool, but was closed so we just saw it from the outside and the Chesapeke too. The temps were frigid about 9 degrees so we walked around quickly. Will definitely return in better weather to explore more

Really enjoyed the history of the ships. The light ship was great and informative. I enjoyed the submarine the best. I really respect how they lived and fought for our country While on board a sub.

Were first in line on Sunday morning to visit Constellation. It has been painstakingly restored and is a must see for history, warship, and sailing buffs. Whereas one can tour only the main or two decks of most ships of this type, all decks are open (no wheel chair access it would spoil the experience). Trip is self guided, easy to understand and was fascinating for both of us who come from very different backgrounds.Passed on the submarine since I had been on it as an operational ship more than once as a kid growning up in New London. And if you grow up in New London, Coast Guard cutters become boring after a time. However, if you've never been on a submarine, it's a must visit for adults and children. If you like these ships and are ever in Philadelphia, visit the USS Olympia and its submarine.

You can buy the individual tickets or the tickets for multiple ships, depending on what you wish to do for the day. Buying the multi-pass will definitely save you money and is highly recommended. You can walk to all of the included ships/subs without needing a taxi or the having to relocate your car. I chose the mult-ship package and it took me most of the day to see all of them. There were no long lines, but if you are self-touring, reading signs and picture-taking along the way, you will need almost a full day for this itinerary. The USCG Tawney is my favorite and the most extensive of the ships you can tour. The USS Torsk is a submarine and was very interesting if you have never toured a submarine before. Both the Tawney and Tork have plenty of signage to help you along your self-guided tours, so if you take the time to stop and read the signs, you will be very well-informed and satisfied at the end of your tour. You will occasionally run into some very informative docents, many of whom have personal history with the ships or ships similar to the ones you are touring. They are worth stopping and listening to if you do happen upon them. There are plenty of restaurants in the vicinity of the ships, so you can stop and grab a bite to eat when hunger strikes.

You can buy a multi ship entry pass which is very reasonable. There was a cannon firing on the USS Conseltation. They also offer an auditory tour guide. Lots of displays and explanation of each ship's role in history. Great fun.

The USS Constitution is a worthwhile visit back in time. See how the sailors slept, how the term "going to the head" came about, how cannon balls were stored and many other interesting facts.

You can purchase a ticket for all of the ships, or a single ship ticket if your time is short. Buying the full tour ticket is a definite savings, however. The ships are chock full of history and are presented very well. You could easily spend an hour aboard each ship. If you have little ones, be aware that strollers are not typically allowed and the stairs allowing access to all decks can be difficult to navigate with small children...or for those with physical disabilities.

My ten year old asked to do this last time we were in Baltimore, so with the return trip, I couldn't say no and I'm so glad we did it! It was a great experience. The only one we didn't get to see was the USS Constellation because it is dry docked for winter, but when we return in the spring, we will be sure to go back. My family, which includes a 3 and a 10 year old boy, all enjoyed seeing these ships. We learned so much. I can't wait to go back. Just be sure to check the time it is open; we ran out of time for seeing the lighthouse but we will definitely do that on our next visit!

If you enjoy the sea, in any capacity, or if you own or wish you owned a boat, come see "the big girls" in Baltimore. You'll be amazed at the living conditions aboard these historic vessels. Baltimore seems to be a yachtsman's magnet and on any given summer day, there are hundreds of small, medium and large yachts in the Inner Harbor. The crown jewel is, of course the USS Constellation, as well it should be. Come ready to be impressed at the sacrifices our men and women made and make in the vigilance needed to protect this nation either thru the submarine service or the US Coast Guard. Baltimore is and will continue to be proud of its marine heritage.

We enjoyed the three ships very much. It would have been nice to have more, and more organised, information about them.

So crowded! We waited in line for an hour and still didn't get on the ships. Maybe it was the holiday, but wow, not worth the parking cost, then the walk through crowds, the heat, the pushing, shoving and all-around mood - for what didn't look like very much - at least from the distance.