Essentially, the USS Constitution had 24-inches of extremely strong wood. This caused the smaller British cannons to fire cannon balls that seemed just to bounce off the sides of the Constitution earning her the name "Old Ironsides."
For the upcoming repairs, most of the planks will be 30-40 feet long and six inches thick and must have no defects.
Even after being afloat for most of 200 years, some 12% of the wood in the Constitution is original. Most all of the keel, bottom frames and probably the bottom 13 planks have never had to be replaced.
A grove of trees at Crane was officially named "Constitution Grove" on May 8, 1776, during the nation's Bicentennial.
--Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
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