ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

National Historic Ships

Okay, imagine you have a really cool toy boat that you love to play with. Now imagine that boat is actually a really old boat that people used a long, long time ago. Maybe your great-great-great-grandparents even sailed on it!

National historic ships are like those really old toys that are still important because of their history. Instead of being in a toy box, these boats are preserved and kept safe so people can learn about them and appreciate the important role they played in the past.

Sometimes, these historic ships are open for people to visit and explore, but we have to be careful not to damage them because they are so old. They might also be used to show people what life was like for sailors in the past.

Think of national historic ships like a special museum, but instead of being filled with paintings or things that belong in houses, it's filled with really old boats that are important to our history.