USS Minneapolis ( C - 13 ) The first USS " Minneapolis " ( CA - 17 , ex - C - 13 ) was a United States Navy protected cruiser . She was named for the city of Minneapolis , Minnesota . " Minneapolis " was laid down 16 December 1891 by William Cramp & Sons , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania ; launched 12 August 1893 , sponsored by Miss Elizabeth Washburn , daughter of Senator William D . Washburn of Minnesota ; and commissioned at Philadelphia , 13 December 1894 , Captain George H . Wadleigh , in command . Early duties . Assigned to the North Atlantic Squadron , the new cruiser took part in maneuvers and cruises along the eastern seaboard and in the West Indies until she was assigned to the European Squadron 27 November 1895 , arriving Gibraltar , 13 December . After cruising in the Mediterranean Sea , she visited Kronstadt , Russia , 13 May to 19 June , as flagship of Rear Admiral Thomas O . Selfridge , Jr . , representing the United States at the coronation of Czar Nicholas II . Following visits to principal ports of northern Europe , she returned to Turkey and Greece . She departed Gibraltar 21 June 1897 and arrived at Philadelphia 6 July . The next day , she was placed in reserve at League Island Navy Yard , Philadelphia . Spanish - American War . Upon outbreak of the Spanish - American War , " Minneapolis " was assigned to the Northern Patrol Squadron operating along the north Atlantic coast of the United States . In April 1898 , she was dispatched for scouting duty in the West Indies , searching for Admiral Cervera ' s fleet as far as the coast of Venezuela , and returning to Santiago de Cuba , 19 May 1898 , en route to Key West , Florida . Peace time duties . She decommissioned at Philadelphia 18 August 1898 and remained in ordinary in League Island Navy Yard until recommissioned as a receiving ship , 23 April 1902 . She again decommissioned at League Island Navy Yard , Philadelphia , 2 June 1903 and recommissioned 5 October 1903 . She took part in the Louisiana Purchase Celebration at New Orleans , Louisiana from 16 to 28 December , and spent much of the next year cruising the West Indies . " Minneapolis " arrived New London , Connecticut 23 May 1905 to participate in the unveiling of the John Winthrop Monument , then was assigned to a Special Service Squadron with collier and screw steamer , under the command of Rear Admiral Colby Mitchell Chester , to make astronomical and other scientific observations off the coast of Spain and Africa . She sailed from New York 3 July 1905 and arrived at Gibraltar on the 17th , carrying scientists to observe the solar eclipse , 30 August 1905 . She departed the Mediterranean 10 November 1905 and sailed via France and England to the United States arriving Hampton Roads , 23 December . She was at Annapolis , Maryland , 20 April to 5 May 1906 , for ceremonies commemorating the arrival of the body of John Paul Jones , and , after taking midshipmen on a practice cruise , conducted training cruises for men of the naval militia s of New York and Connecticut . She decommissioned at Philadelphia on 7 November 1906 and remained in ordinary until the United States entered World War I . World War I . Recommissioned 2 July 1917 , " Minneapolis " got underway from Philadelphia 15 September for Hampton Roads , and departed that base 26 October for Colon , Panama Canal Zone , were she joined British transports " Arawa " and " Corinthia " . The vessels sailed from Colon 6 November and steamed by way of Hampton Roads to Halifax , Nova Scotia . The cruiser continued to operate along the Atlantic coast until assigned to transatlantic convoy duty 24 February 1918 . During the next 8 months , she made four escort voyages , departing New York and sailing to ocean rendezvous where the convoys were turned over to British destroyers . On her last voyage , she departed New York on 9 October as escort for a convoy to Sydney , Nova Scotia , and returned to New York , 19 October . Post war and final decommissioning . " Minneapolis " was then assigned to the Pacific Station as flagship , arriving in San Diego , California on 7 February 1919 . She was decommissioned at the Mare Island Navy Yard three years later , on 15 March 1921 , and sold on 5 August 1921 . Her mast and bell , the only surviving parts of her , are preserved on the northeastern shore of Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis .