All Hands on Deck, an Exhibit at the USS Constitution Museum

Maxwell Mulholland, an entrepreneurial executive and President ofgi M+M Stratec Enterprises, a management consulting firm located in Boston, helps his clients identify operational challenges and implement solutions that promote corporate growth and long-term business success. In addition to his professional endeavors, Maxwell Mulholland, who also graduated from the United States Naval Academy and served as a line officer in the US Navy, also volunteers his time as an Overseer at the USS Constitution Museum in Boston, Massachusetts.

Launched in 1797, the USS Constitution, or “Old Ironsides,” is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. The USS Constitution Museum, located near the ship, helps people of all ages learn about maritime history, specifically the stories related to Old Ironsides.

In 2009, the USS Constitution Museum launched an exhibit called “All Hands on Deck: A Sailors Life in 1812.” The design of the family-centered exhibit, which encompassed 10 years of research, dives into the real-life stories of some of the 1,243 people who served aboard the USS Constitution during the War of 1812.

To assemble material for the interactive exhibit, researchers investigated census records, memoirs, diaries, journals, and newspapers of the era. Because of their extensive research, visitors can now experience life aboard a ship during the War of 1812. They can furl a sail, scrub the deck, lie in a hammock, and try their hand at tying knots, all while learning about real people who helped defend the United States more than 200 years ago.