Overnight Adventures

Join us on board for a unique overnight adventure! Get an immersive hands-on historic experience with 21st century relevance that encourages teamwork, critical thinking, and learning.

All overnight programs include:

Authentic bunk space on board
Historical meal
Hands-on activities on board
Complimentary admission to all other museum ships at Historic Ships in Baltimore
Discounted reservation rate for Living Classrooms' Chessie Dragon Paddle Boats (in-season, usually March-November, only)

Walk in the footsteps of sailors and learn about life aboard a mid-19th century Navy sailing warship, a World War II era Navy submarine, or a Coast Guard Cutter that served for 50 years, including witnessing the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Just as importantly, groups have fun!

NOTE TO MARYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS!

Historic Ships has received an SAI grant that will allow us to offer 50% off on programs for Maryland school groups. If you are a Maryland school interested in a field trip or overnight program between now and June 2025, please reach out to Alexa at aprice@historicships.org to discuss program options.

USS Constellation Overnight Adventure

Participants: 20–60

Come on board and walk in the footsteps of sailors, learning about life aboard a mid-19th century, U.S. Navy sailing warship. Your group will learn the ropes and quickly develop a working nautical vocabulary. Sleep in traditional hammocks and eat around a mess cloth on the deck to experience the tight living conditions on board. Learn about the benefits and downsides to working on an all-sail warship by hauling cargo, pulling ropes to adjust the ship, and moving and "firing" replica fiberglass cannons.

USS Constellation Overnight schedule

USS Constellation Overnight menu

USS Torsk Overnight Adventure

Participants: 20–32

USS Torsk overnight program offers a hands-on experience aboard a WWII fleet submarine. Due to the close quarters on board USS Torsk, meals and hands-on activities take place on Lightship Chesapeake, located on the same pier. Tours, scavenger hunts, and sleeping takes place on USS Torsk. Overnighters learn about things that are unique to submarines including periscopes, torpedoes, buoyancy, and how submarines manage to exist below the surface.

USCG Cutter 37 Overnight Adventure

Participants: 20–60

Stay aboard the last surviving warship from the Battle of Pearl Harbor. Activities encourage teamwork, communications skills, and quick thinking. Learn firsthand about shipboard damage control, steam engines and propulsion, and navigation. Get an up-close look at closed spaces such as the Engine Room, Navigation Bridge, and Gun Mount. This site is best for large groups, scouts new to camping, or mixed gender groups who prefer separate sleeping areas.

Note: activities on this overnight run late into the evening, and require problem-solving. It is not recommended for children under 6, and is best for age 8 and up; please consult the schedule to decide if this ship is right for your group!

Customer Testimonial:

“…To any group wondering if the experience is worth it, I need to say unequivocally yes. There is no doubt in my mind that our children walked away from that night knowing things that they never knew before.”

Requirements

Group Size

20 participants are required at minimum for all ships. The maximum number of participants is 60 per weekend; USS Constellation and USCG Cutter 37 hold a maximum of 60 participants, and USS Torsk can accommodate 32. Groups of 10-19 can be accommodated on an evening with another confirmed group of 20 or more.

Availability

Programs are available for groups 7 days a week, on-demand, year-round. Saturday evening programs are the most popular and tend to require booking months in advance. Programs are available for kids 6 and up and run from 6pm until 9am the next day. Simply fill out the form below for more information and to check availability for your preferred dates! Keep in mind that our maximum weekend capacity is 60 people, so if there is another group already booked that weekend, we may have to restrict your maximum number of participants in order to keep to our limit.

Payment

The cost per participant in 2024 is $67 ($60 if the program takes place in July or August). *In 2025 the cost will increase to $69 per person*

Non-refundable, non-transferable deposits are based on group sizes:

20-29 participants: $200
30-39participants: $300
40+ participants: $400

The final balance is due no later than 60 days prior to the program date.

Waivers & Insurance

All participants under 18 must submit an Overnight Parental Release Form filled out by their parent or guardian; adult participants must submit an Overnight Adult Waiver Form. In addition, all groups must provide a Certificate of Insurance with $1,000,000 in coverage for bodily injury and property damage. This certificate must name the Living Classrooms Foundation, Inc. and Historic Ships in Baltimore, Inc. as additional insured. Certificates of Liability shall be forwarded to the museum no later than the balance due date. For Scouting BSA and Girl Scouts, the Certificate of Insurance is fulfilled by your local council.

Download Waiver & Release Form

Inquiries about Reservation Availability
Overnight Request Form

FAQs

What time does the program begin and end?

The program runs from 6pm to 9am.

I have a scheduling conflict. Can I arrive late or leave early?

We recommend the majority of the group arrive on time. Late arrivals of individuals can be easily accommodated with your group organizer and the museum. Individuals or entire groups may leave early.

My group is pretty young. Which ship is best for young children?

All of our ships are available to children age six and up. However, groups with large numbers of young children may prefer the immersive and hands-on experience offered on board USS Constellation or USS Torsk. USCG Cutter 37 is best for groups age 8 and up.

Can we bring other children?

Yes, siblings are welcome. For siblings younger than first grade, please contact the Education Department.

Do the ships have A/C or heat?

USS Constellation is a wooden, Civil War-era sailing ship and does not have a central A/C or heating system. It. Conditions are similar to winter tent-camping. It is not recommended for Cub Scouts in January and February. It is appropriate for Boy Scouts year-round.

USS Torsk has central heating in winter, but does not have central A/C. It is appropriate for all groups October-early June.

USCG Cutter 37 is currently limited to fans or space heaters for climate control.

How far ahead should I plan our event?

Spring is the most popular time for overnight programs. To ensure the dates they want, groups frequently register 3-8 months prior to a given date.

Will our group be the only one onboard?

You may share a vessel, but only with groups of a similar type. For example, BSA Scouting groups may be booked together, and Girl Scout groups may be booked with each other. BSA groups and Girl Scout Groups will not be booked together. USS Torsk only has one group at a time. We reserve the right to fill USS Constellation and USCG Cutter 37 to capacity.

I have a small group of less than 20. Can we still attend?

Yes, we can accommodate groups of 10 or more in a program with another confirmed group.

What are the facilities like?

Sleeping quarters on board our ships are authentic to the period when the ships were in service. On USS Torsk and Cutter 37 overnight participants sleep on the original racks (bunks), and on USS Constellation they sleep in hammocks below deck.

If you require gender-specific bunking areas, please let us know when booking your overnight so we can make arrangements.

Restrooms vary by ship. USS Constellation does not have running water or restrooms on board, but the attached museum building has men's, women's, and family restrooms. USS Torsk does not have running water, but the original heads (toilets) are able to function without running water. Torsk overnights generally use the head on the Lightship Chesapeake, docked beside Torsk, which has running water. The toilets on the submarine itself are generally used only during the night. These are single-stall restrooms. Cutter 37 has running water to the original crew's head, with two working stalls. As per the original ship design, the stalls have curtains rather than doors.

There are no showers on site.

I have food sensitivities. Can we change the menu? Can I bring my own food?

Vegetarian options are available on all sites. Gluten-free or dairy-free options may be available if requested in advance. We do not make substitutions to the menu. Those with severe sensitivities or allergies are welcome to bring their own food. There is a microwave available for use on all sites.

What about a weather emergency?

For severe weather emergencies in Baltimore City, the museum may cancel a program. If the museum cancels, groups are entitled to a rescheduled event or a full refund.

Guided Tour Programs

Guided tours & hands-on activities when you visit the exhibits

Educational Programs

Hands-on presentations that comply with MD state curricula

Off-Site Presentations

Request an off-site outreach program for a school or adult group