With plans completed in May and the keel laid on June 25, 1853, just before steam propulsion was adopted as auxiliary power for all new warships, Constellation was the last all sail ship designed by the Navy, as well as the largest "sloop" built to that date.

Designed by John Lenthall, Chief Constructor of the Navy, as a "sloop-of-war," she was much larger than most other ships of that category. Being closer in size to a second class frigate enabled Constellation to carry a heavier battery of guns than conventional sloops. Launched on August 26, 1854 at the Gosport Navy Yard in Virginia, Constellation was commissioned on July 28, 1855.