Civil War Discussion: USS Congress

Visit the Museum on Friday afternoon to enjoy lunch in the Mariners’ Park Café while engaging in lively and informative Civil War discussions with renowned historian, John Quarstein. There is no charge to participate. Lunch will be available for purchase at the café! 

Laid down in 1820, the sailing frigate USS Congress was completed at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, in 1841. Congress then served in the Mediterranean, South Atlantic, and Pacific squadrons. During the Mexican War, the ship served off California and the frigate's crew helped to capture Los Angeles. Congress also fought at the battles of San Gabriel and La Mesa and was sent into ordinary at Gosport Navy Yard in 1848. Re-commissioned in 1850, Congress helped to suppress the slave trade. The frigate was assigned to blockade duty off of Newport News Point until it sank on March 8, 1862.