Forget the glass cases—Historic Ships in Baltimore lets you climb aboard some of the most battle-tested and storied vessels in American history, docked right in the Inner Harbor. From Civil War deck guns to WWII torpedo tubes, these ships have witnessed everything from high-seas warfare to life-or-death rescues.

The USS Constellation (1854) is a towering warship, the last sail-only vessel built by the U.S. Navy, once hunting down slave traders in the Atlantic. The USS Torsk (1944), a lethal WWII submarine, fired the last torpedoes of the war, sinking two Japanese ships just hours before peace was declared. The USCG Cutter 37 (1936) spent decades chasing Prohibition smugglers and battling Nazi U-boats, before standing guard during the Cold War. Then there’s LV116 Chesapeake (1930), a floating lighthouse that endured brutal storms to keep ships from wrecking in the bay.

Each vessel offers a hands-on dive into history—step inside the cramped quarters of a WWII submariner, stand at the helm of a 19th-century warship, or test your nerves in a cutter’s combat information center. If you want even more history, the nearby Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse—which guided sailors for over a century—adds one more piece to Baltimore’s seafaring past.

Whether you’re a naval history junkie or just looking for an unforgettable adventure, these ships aren’t just relics—they’re living pieces of the past, waiting to be explored.