USS Constitution Museum Case Statement

FROM OUR PRESIDENT AND BOARD CHAIR

The USS Constitution Museum is at a pivotal moment. We’re charting a bold, new course as a world-class museum and civic center that embodies our core values of courage, honor, and service.

We’re creating a new museum where imagination and ideas set sail. One that brings people together to rediscover the American spirit and common ground. One that motivates civic engagement, whether serving community or country. And one that “wows” visitors with amazing exhibits at every turn and keeps them coming back.

Our Charting A Bold Course campaign transforms how people encounter and engage with history. It will create greater opportunities to inspire people of all ages to embrace teamwork, leadership, and service with renewed understanding. Alongside the undefeated USS Constitution – our nation’s Ship of State – we have our sights on being a national destination museum. With unforgettable visitor experiences that touch hearts and open minds, we’ll bring history to life in bigger, bolder ways.

For the last 50 years, our Museum has shared the story of USS Constitution with visitors from all over the world. Our Museum is an integral part of the fabric of Boston. In partnership with the National Park Service, we are building a cultural landmark that will anchor the Freedom Trail and transform Boston Harbor, welcoming visitors from near and far. Now, Charting A Bold Course will transform how Americans experience history for the next 50 years.

Come aboard!

Anne Grimes Rand President and CEO

Dennis J. Langwell Chairman

ESTABLISH A NEW NATIONAL MUSEUM & CIVIC CENTER

We have a unique opportunity to transform the Boston waterfront, support a world-class museum, and elevate the Charlestown Navy Yard as a national landmark. It brings together the Museum, the U.S. Navy, and the National Park Service in a true legacy project.

Our potential has never been greater to have a meaningful impact on society now and in the future. We want to steer public awareness and civil discourse toward what unites us as a nation. The Museum and Ship will bring people together

to discover how relatable our shared history is today – and see themselves in our stories.

We’re a highly-awarded, successful museum. But we’re limited by our current building. In fact, we have collections of USS Constitution, maritime, naval, and American history in our vault that we have yet to display due to lack of space and the state of our facility. Our small and outdated facility, distance from the Ship, and vulnerability to climate change are constraints to serving our Boston communities and reaching more visitors regionally, nationally, and internationally.

THE NEW MUSEUM: A PLACE WHERE OUR CAMPAIGN

IMAGINATION SETS SAIL

Amuseum can be transformational. A place

We’re evolving into a national destination museum, accessible and affordable for all. We’re the only museum dedicated to USS Constitution, showcasing her art and artifacts and amplifying her stories. Our new, larger facility will double our visitation.

We’re expanding. As a forum for thought leaders. To host public and private events. Display our extensive collections. And share rotating exhibits from collaborating museums.

Our new exhibits, using the latest virtual and immersive technology, will put visitors in the midst of battles, pirate encounters, and stories of “Old Ironsides.” After feeling the exhilaration of being aloft on the Ship’s masts and setting the sails, visitors will want to visit again and again.

BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE OUR CAMPAIGN

Charting A Bold Course is the most ambitious comprehensive fundraising campaign in our 50-year history.

Our campaign supports expanded exhibit spaces and a wholly different kind of visitor experience. One that’s dynamic and full of discovery.

We’re building an innovative museum –transforming how Americans experience history The National Park Service is our partner in this high-profile, prestigious project. Together, we will create a new Gateway Center to welcome guests to the Charlestown Navy Yard. Our commitment is to raise $60M to fund the USS Constitution Museum’s new facility.

As important as our new building is, our sights are on what happens inside it: we aim to inspire courage, honor, and service.

PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE OUR CAMPAIGN

Chart a world-class museum experience

Join us as we invite visitors to explore the new USS Constitution Museum and civic center.

We’ll engage through showcasing our collections, expanded programming for all ages, and captivating immersive and interactive technology. State-of-the-art rotating exhibits will encourage visitors to come back again and again.

We’ll build on our national leadership in awardwinning education programs with hands-on, mindson exhibits and learning experiences for all ages.

We’ll offer free introductory exhibits to all who visit the Ship, making the Museum accessible and affordable to everyone.

Advance civics, service, and community

Let’s empower citizens – and involve our nation’s leaders.

The Museum will serve as a forum convening guests of national prominence. We’ll welcome community, private, corporate, and Museum member gatherings.

We’ll host citizenship ceremonies, expanded veteran and military family programs, commissionings, and retirements to bridge military and civilian communities.

And we’ll expand our reach: informing millions of Americans about civic engagement and service nationwide.

Anchor a new Boston waterfront

Be an integral part of creating a new, must-see museum destination.

The Gateway Center’s striking architecture and location will create an extraordinary destination attractive to Bostonians and traveling visitors alike.

The building will be as functional as it is visually appealing. Anticipating rising sea levels, the state-of-the-art facility will provide climateresilient environmental controls to protect our collections – and visiting exhibits.

Amenities include views of the harbor and Ship, dining options, waterfront access, and indoor/outdoor event space.

CAMPAIGN MILESTONES OUR

NOW

Museum’s 50th Anniversary

Charting A Bold Course campaign

2026

America’s 250th Anniversary

New Museum groundbreaking

2029-2030

Boston’s 400th Anniversary

New Museum opening

60 MILLION

BOLDLY WE GO

$104,000,000

Economic activity created for Greater Boston by construction of new building

Annual visitors in our new space

50k School children we’ll serve

10k

Items in the collection = 750,000

10M+ Visitors to Museum in first 50 years

2.5k Gallery square footage for rotating exhibits

21,063

Total square footage

OUR COURSE

None

Hands-on interactive exhibits

TRAVELING EXHIBIT SPACE

TECHNOLOGY

2,500 square feet of state-of-the-art rotating exhibit space

Latest virtual and immersive museum technology

OUTDOOR SPACES 1 5

Across pier from “Old Ironsides”

20,000 students/year

600 square feet

LOCATION

STUDENT GROUPS

EDUCATION CENTER

Adjacent to America’s Ship of State

50,000+ students/year

LET’S RENEW THE AMERICAN SPIRIT

JOIN US

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Dennis J. Langwell, Chairman

Alison Nolan, Vice Chairman

Daniel E. Smith, Vice Chairman

Bruce Blessington, Treasurer

Megan Sniffin-Marinoff, Secretary

W.Karl Baker

Richard D. Batchelder, Jr.

Nirav G. Desai

Paul B. Ferraro

John Fitzgerald

CAPT Thomas V. Hennessey, Jr., USN (Ret.)

Nancy Kelleher

CAPT Mary Jo Majors, NC, USN (Ret.)

The Honorable James F. McHugh, III

Frank Morse

William Phipps Rice, Jr.

Jennifer Rossi, Ph.D.

Lois Siegelman

Matthew P. Stackpole

Jessica Stebbins

Dean H. Steeger

Taylor B. Wagenseil

Dennis J. White

CDR Christopher S. Wiseman, USN (Ret.)

Paul E. George, Chairman Emeritus

G.West Saltonstall, Chairman Emeritus

CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP

John Hayes, Co-Chair

Alison Nolan, Co-Chair

Dan Smith, Co-Chair

Campaign Committee*

Bill Carey

Paul George

Dan Kaufman

Gary Kearney

Ann Lagasse

Dennis Langwell

*Committee in formation

CONTACT US

Anne Grimes Rand President & CEO arand@ussconstitutionmuseum.org

Kate Todd ktodd@ussconstitutionmuseum.org

CAMPAIGN DONATIONS WILL BENEFIT THE NONPROFIT USS CONSTITUTION MUSEUM; NO FUNDS WILL GO TO THE U.S. NAVY.

Photography Credits: Greg M. Cooper Photography, cover and page 12; Matty Symons, page 4; Marble Fairbanks, pages 6, 7, 13, and 15; CambridgeSeven, pages 9, 10, and 20; Adobe Stock Images, page 14 and back cover