Roaming the Haunted USS Constellation

For years, visiting the USS Constellation in Baltimore has been on the Our Haunted Travels bucket list, and in June of 2025, it became a reality. We stopped by and spent some time roaming the different levels of the ship anchored right there in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

In 2025, we planned a 12-day road trip to visit several cities. One of the cities was Baltimore, for many reasons. We wanted to visit Fort McHenry, see Edgar Allan Poe's grave, and finally board the USS Constellation.

We added this ship to the PANICd.com database in 2013 after researching its history and paranormal activity, which made us want to visit it someday.

During our visit, we recorded a video talking about the history of the ship and the paranormal activity. We show you the ship's sleeping quarters, officers' quarters, sick bay, and other items still on board.

We really did enjoy our visit on the ship and are glad we had the chance to go on board and walk through the museum. The staff at the museum could have been a little bit more pleasant, but that was fine. We just made up for it by experiencing the history of the ship.

About the USS Constellation

The USS Constellation, docked today in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, is one of the most storied ships in American naval history. The vessel we see now was launched in 1854, but it shares a name and legacy with an earlier frigate launched in 1797, one of the original six ships of the United States Navy. The newer Constellation was a sloop-of-war, designed to patrol and protect American interests overseas, and though debates have persisted over whether it was a rebuild of the 1797 frigate or an entirely new ship, the Navy eventually acknowledged them as two separate vessels. This 1854 Constellation was active for over a century, serving through the Civil War and into the 20th century, even acting as a training vessel during both World Wars.

Constructed at the Gosport Navy Yard in Norfolk, Virginia, the 1854 Constellation was built using some timbers believed to have come from the original frigate. She was intended for speed and agility, able to fight in foreign waters and support American diplomatic efforts around the world. Her earliest missions took her to the Mediterranean and to the coast of Africa, where she served with the U.S. African Squadron, tasked with suppressing the transatlantic slave trade. During these missions, the Constellation captured slave ships and freed hundreds of enslaved individuals, making her part of a significant, though complicated, legacy.

By the time of the American Civil War, the Constellation served with the Union and helped protect shipping routes and American interests in the Mediterranean. She became a symbol of federal power on foreign seas. Although she did not see direct combat during the war, her presence on the international stage played a critical diplomatic role, reinforcing the Union’s strength and legitimacy at a time when Confederate agents sought foreign recognition.

In the decades following the Civil War, the Constellation transitioned into a training ship for naval cadets. She was stationed at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and later relocated to Newport, Rhode Island. As a training vessel, she helped prepare generations of sailors and officers for service, instilling naval tradition and discipline. This role solidified her reputation as a symbol of continuity in the rapidly changing world of naval warfare, from sail to steam.

Eventually, the Constellation was decommissioned and began a slow journey toward preservation. By the mid-20th century, she had been brought to Baltimore, and efforts began to restore her to her original 1854 appearance. In 1963, she was officially recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Today, she serves as a floating museum, operated by Historic Ships in Baltimore, drawing thousands of visitors who learn about her layered legacy of combat, training, diplomacy, and abolitionist work.

However, it’s not just her storied naval history that draws visitors to the Constellation. Over the years, numerous tales of paranormal activity have surfaced, with reports dating back decades. Crew members, museum staff, and visitors have claimed to experience strange events aboard the ship, particularly in the lower decks and officer quarters. These claims include sudden cold spots, disembodied voices, shadowy figures, and the distinct sensation of being watched when no one else is present.

One of the most common stories involves sightings of a ghostly sailor believed to be a young powder boy who died in a tragic accident involving an exploding cannon. Visitors have reported seeing the spirit dart through the lower deck or hearing faint cries and footsteps echoing near where the boy’s death supposedly occurred. Some even claim to have captured his image in photographs, appearing as a small, misty figure trailing behind tour groups.

Another frequently mentioned apparition is that of a uniformed officer seen standing silently on the deck during late-night hours. Security guards have described hearing footsteps when the ship was empty or encountering a figure who vanishes into the shadows when approached. Many believe this spirit to be a former commanding officer who refuses to leave his post even in death, eternally tied to the ship he once led.

Staff members working overnight or early morning shifts have described inexplicable incidents, such as doors slamming shut, objects moving on their own, and hearing whispered conversations with no source. Others report flickering lanterns or electric lights going out as they walk past, only to flicker back to life moments later. These patterns of activity are often associated with areas that once served as sleeping quarters or mess halls.

Paranormal investigators who have visited the USS Constellation with audio and visual equipment have claimed to record electronic voice phenomena (EVPs), including voices answering questions or repeating sailor commands. Some have also reported feeling sudden emotional changes, such as overwhelming sadness or agitation, when entering particular compartments—especially those used to detain or discipline crew members.

Whether one believes in ghosts or not, the Constellation’s combination of deep maritime history, personal tragedy, and a long life at sea makes it an ideal vessel for spiritual lore. Her presence in Baltimore’s harbor is not only a monument to American naval history but also a place where the line between the living and the dead seems, at times, to blur. As one of the most haunted ships in the United States, the Constellation continues to intrigue and mystify visitors with both her historical and supernatural legacies.

Let us know down in the comments if you have had the chance to visit the USS Constellation in Inner Harbor Baltimore. We would love to hear about your adventure.