How did the ship constitution get its name old ironsides?

The USS Constitution earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" during the War of 1812 when British cannonballs were observed bouncing off its sturdy oak hull. This remarkable resilience to enemy fire led sailors and spectators to believe the ship was made of iron rather than wood. The nickname became a symbol of the ship's strength and durability, and it remains a beloved part of American naval history. Today, the Constitution is preserved as a museum ship in Boston.