1812 Bicentennial Celebration
Tall Ships and naval vessels from across the world are coming to Boston June 30 to July 5 to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812, the historic role played by the US Navy and our very own USS Constitution in the conflict, and the composing of our national anthem – The Star Spangled Banner
In more ways than you can imagine, this will be a tribute for the history books. More than 30 U.S. and international naval vessels, crewed by over 5,000 uniformed sailors, will be seen in and around Boston Harbor during the celebration.
A fleet of international Tall Ships, including Cisne Bronco from Brazil, Gloria from Columbia, Ecuador’s Guayas, Indonesia’s Dawaruci, and US Coast Guard’s Eagle, will also be in attendance. In fact, Eagle will join Constitution as both vessels venture out to Castle Island under sail (conditions permitting) to perform the customary 21-gun salute.
The US Navy is even sending their famed flight demonstration squadron, The Blue Angels, to captivate spectators with their renowned formation flying. The squadron, accompanied by their support plane, Fat Albert, and sharing the skies with other military, civilian and historic aircraft, will perform a variety of flyover salutes and “wow” onlookers with a short demonstration of their incredible precision.
Plus, there’ll be a host of activities planned in the area of the Charlestown Navy Yard, which the USS Constitution calls home, and along the city’s waterfront.
Parades of sail, aerial demonstrations, and ceremonies honoring the writing of the “The Star Spangled Banner,’’ by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812 offer something for everyone - on land, on the sea, and in the air.
This will truly be one of the biggest and grandest weeklong celebrations the city of Boston has ever hosted, and Boston Harbor Cruises is your best bet for great views of all the festivities and for getting up close to the many visiting ships berthed throughout the harbor. So mark your calendars and get your tickets now for this must-see salute to our nation’s naval history.