Capt. Cabin (USS Constellation)

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The Captain’s Cabin is the private space for the commanding officer of the ship. The only personnel allowed here regularly were the captain’s secretary and steward. All others had to request permission or await an invitation or summons. This relatively luxurious and private space served as a reminder of the captain’s status among the crew. Appropriately, he is also the only crewmember to have quarters above the berth deck; he physically lives and sleeps above the rest of the crew. All of Constellation’s commanding officers made use of this space throughout her career from 1855-1955. In May 1941, Constellation became the relief Flagship for Adm. Ernest King and the Atlantic Fleet. When King was promoted later that year, Adm. Royal E. Ingersoll assume command of the Atlantic Fleet and used Constellation as his Flagship from January to July, 1942. Parts of the Cabin The Cabin is divided into several smaller compartments using removable bulkheads. Stateroom – Forward on the starboard side, this compartment contains the Captains bunk and a desk for personal use. Starboard is considered the senior side of any ship, so the Captain sleeps on this side. Typically, his responsibilities to the ship prevented the Captain from getting more than a few hours of sleep each night. The bed could make use of curtains to add privacy and retain heat. The desk allowed the Captain the privacy to conduct personal correspondence away from the formal setting of the day cabin. Starboard Washroom- This is the Captains restroom. It contains a lead-lined tub for bathing and behind the tub is the captain’s commode. The Captain is the only crewmember who has his own head. It is directly aft of the stateroom which allowed the Captain to access it without having to enter the day cabin. Day Cabin- This is the main space of the Captain’s Cabin. Under normal operation, the Captain’s official desk was in the day cabin along with a small sitting area. At his desk, the Captain performed official correspondence and paperwork. He could also hold audience with his officers here. One of the more serious functions of the day cabin was “Captain’s Mast” or disciplinary hearings. Here the captain imposed punishments for crew infractions. Courts Martial could also be held in the day cabin. Occasionally, the Captain would invite the officers to council or dine with him. These meetings allowed the captain to consult with his officers and to learn what has been happening aboard the ship. Port Washroom- This 2nd bathroom was fitted to the cabin to allow use by visiting dignitaries or guests of the ship. Also, in a situation where Constellation carried an officer higher than Captain, such as an Admiral, that higher officer moved into the Captain’s stateroom and washroom on the starboard side. The Captain, finding himself outranked, moved a bunk into the office just forward and made use of this extra washroom. Office- Here the Captain’s secretary completed routine paperwork required by the ship. He was also charged with keeping the ship’s log, which is like an official diary recording weather conditions, course headings, and ship’s and crew’s activities. There is a barometer and ship’s clock to aid in recording the time of events and weather conditions. -Pantry - here a steward prepped the Captain’s meals. All food was cooked at the stove on the Gun Deck, but the steward did final plating and garnishing here. The Captain also had personal food stores from which the steward could draw for serving meals. The cabinet has a design that prevents dishware from toppling during rough seas.

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