Indiana Forest Keeps America's Oldest Warship Afloat

The USS Constitution, a symbol of American naval might since 1797, continues to float thanks in large part to a dedicated forest in Indiana. This unique woodland, managed by Naval Support Activity Crane (NSA Crane), provides the high-quality white oak necessary for maintaining and restoring the historic ship's wooden hull. The forest, which covers around 40 acres, is one of only a few places in the United States with mature trees old enough to supply the specific dimensions required for the Constitution’s extensive dry dock restorations.

The story of this special forest begins during the Great Depression when President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration purchased and reforested vast tracts of land across the country as part of New Deal programs aimed at job creation. One such plot, NSA Crane, was established in Indiana with a focus on planting oak, hickory, poplar, maple, and ash trees. The base's strategic location inland made it an ideal site for storing naval weapons during World War II when Delaware, the previous storage location, was vulnerable to potential sea attacks.

In 1976, as America celebrated its bicentennial, attention turned back to the aging USS Constitution, prompting the Navy to look for a reliable source of high-quality timber. NSA Crane’s forest emerged as the perfect solution due to its concentration of mature white oak trees, some over a century old and towering up to 130 feet tall—dimensions critical for the ship's maintenance needs. The most recent restoration project in 2017 required the felling of 114 such oaks, underscoring the forest’s vital role in preserving this iconic vessel.