USS Mayflower ( 1897 ) The second USS " Suwannee and third USS " Mayflower was a United States Lighthouse Board , and later United States Lighthouse Service , lighthouse tender loaned to the United States Navy in 1898 for service as an auxiliary cruiser during the Spanish - American War and from 1917 to 1919 for service as a patrol vessel during World War I . She also served the Lighthouse Board and in the Lighthouse Service as USLHT " Mayflower " from 1897 to 1898 , from 1898 to 1917 , and from 1919 to 1939 , and in the United States Coast Guard as the first USCGC " Mayflower " ( WAGL - 236 ) in 1939 and from 1940 to 1943 and as USCGC " Hydrangea " ( WAGL - 236 ) from 1943 to 1945 . Construction and commissioning . USLHT " Mayflower " was a lighthouse tender built for the U . S . Lighthouse Board in 1897 by Bath Iron Works in Bath , Maine . The Lighthouse Board commissioned her in November 1897 . Spanish - American War . Just after the Spanish - American War broke out in April 1898 , " Mayflower " was transferred to the U . S . Navy on 27 April 1898 for use as an auxiliary cruiser . She was renamed USS " Suwannee " to avoid confusion with the patrol yacht , which also had been acquired for war service . " Suwannee " s war service included a brief period as the flagship of the commander of the naval base at Key West , Florida , Commodore George C . Remey . The United States Department of the Navy cited her for " conspicuous service " during the war . The war ended in August 1898 , and she was returned to the Lighthouse Service in December 1898 . 1899 - 1917 . The Lighthouse Board rechristened the ship USLHT " Mayflower " and placed her in service as a tender maintaining aids to navigation in the 2nd Lighthouse District , based at Boston , Massachusetts . The Lighthouse Service replaced the Lighthouse Board in 1910 . World War I . After the United States entered World War I in April 1917 , " Mayflower " again was transferred to the Navy and was commissioned on 10 May 1917 for use as a patrol vessel . She patrolled the Atlantic Ocean off the United States East Coast during the war . After the war ended in November 1918 , she was returned to the Lighthouse Service by executive order on 1 July 1919 . 1919 - 1939 . After returning the Lighthouse Service , " Mayflower " again operated in the 2nd Lighthouse District . In 1924 , she transferred to the 5th Lighthouse District . On 1 July 1939 the Lighthouse Service merged into the United States Coast Guard , and in December 1939 " Mayflower " was decommissioned and transferred to the Maritime Training Service in Boston , Massachusetts . World War II . When World War II in Europe created a pressing need for tenders , the Coast Guard recommissioned the ship in July 1940 as USCGC " Mayflower " ( WAGL - 236 ) and based her at Norfolk , Virginia . The Coast Guard , which operated under the control of the U . S . Navy during World War II , renamed her " Hydrangea " on 15 August 1943 to again avoid a naming conflict with the same , which had returned to Navy service once again as a patrol craft . Final disposition . " Hydrangea " was decommissioned on 8 October 1945 and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal . She was later sold .