The first quarter of 1873 saw the decision to yet again overhaul USS Constitution in order to participate in the centennial celebrations of the United States. However, the transitioning of the Philadelphia Navy Yard to League Island delayed the construction process of USS Constitution, and by the end of 1875 the Navy opened bids to outside contractors to reconstruct USS Constitution. This led to her being moved to Wood, Dialogue and Company in May 1876. The Andrew Jackson figurehead was once again removed and sent to the Naval Academy Museum where it remains to this day, and a small boiler and coal bin were installed on board. The construction overshot the centennial celebrations, and USS Constitution was then decided to be used as a training and school ship for Navy apprentices.
Oscar C. Badger became the next commander of USS Constitution and took her on the Paris Exposition of 1878. On this voyage USS Constitution carried artwork and industrial displays of American Manufacturers to France, with three latched railroad cars on her deck, and two cannons removed upon their March 4th departure. However, problems soon started when USS Constitution collided with Ville de Paris, sending USS Constitution off to the dry dock for repairs. USS Constitution remained in France for the duration of the year, not making way to the United States until January 16, 1879. Her bad luck continued when she ran aground the very next day near Bollard Head. This led to her being towed for minor repairs to the Portsmouth Naval Dockyard in Hampshire, England.
Furthermore, USS Constitution’s rudder became damaged during a series of deadly storms on February 13th that led to a complete loss of control over steering. The damaged rudder began bombarded the hull, but three crewmen managed to climb down the stern on ropes and boatwain’s chairs to secure the rudder. The next morning a makeshift steering system was put into place as well. Setting a course for the nearest port, Badger and his crew arrived in Lisbon on February 18th, but the slow dock service kept USS Constitution in limbo until April 11th. The crew did not return home until May 24 due to these setbacks. The three crewmen who courageously secured the rudder in the treacherous thunder storm, Henry Williams, Joseph Matthews, and James Horton, all received the Medal of Honor for their actions. Afterwards, USS Constitution returned to its role as a training and school ship for Navy apprentices, and on the 16th of November crewman, James Thayer, became another USS Constitution crewman to be awarded the Medal of Honor for saving a Navy apprentice from drowning.
USS Constitution’s previous overhaul in 1876 proved to be lackluster, as her condition over the next two years quickly deteriorated and was deemed unfit for service in 1881. She was moved to the Portsmouth Navy Yard in 1882 where she was used as a receiving ship, with a housing structure built over the spar deck. Her negligent maintenance during her days as a receiving ship continued to foster deterioration, managing to only keep her afloat. However, in 1896, Congressman John F. Fitzgerald garnered funds from Congress to restore USS Constitution just enough to return her to Boston. USS Constitution was then towed to the Charlestown Navy Yard on September 21, 1897, with a bleak future. Without the money to recondition her for service, USS Constitution ended her days on active duty, and did not sail again for 116 years.
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