The Museum as a Bostonian Monument
The USS Constitution museum was founded in 1972 as a non-profit and educational destination in Boston, where the ship was originally launched. Today, the museum and the ship together stand as a tourist destination; I heard at least four languages being spoken when I went there, and lots of confused people holding maps on my way. This adds to Boston's rich history, and beyond that, it adds to Boston's discoverable history. Along with cultural icons such as the Freedom Trial and plaques outside of important buildings, the museum adds to the visibility, accessibility, and education that Boston offers tourists.
Today, these tourists are adding their own level of "urban text," in de Certeau's words, to the story of the USS Constitution, and to Boston itself. They are taking what they learn here and bringing it back to their own cultures. An interesting subject to note is what exactly the museum curates what tourists think of Boston and of America. A lot of the content in the museum highlighted the fact that the ship was only involved in winning battles, that it is the oldest commissioned boat still afloat, and the beauty of how the American people can rally together to accomplish a common goal. These ideas present the ship as not only a palimpsest, but a palimpsest with layer upon layer of success, prestige, and glory. They present the ship not only as an icon of Boston, and they tranfix our gaze on the exceptional that the USS Constitution represents.