USS Illinois ( BB - 7 ) USS " Illinois " ( BB - 7 ) , the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 21st state , was a battleship , the lead ship of her class . " Illinois " was laid down on 10 February 1897 by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company of Newport News , Virginia . She was launched on 4 October 1898 , sponsored by Miss Nancy Leiter , daughter of Chicago multi - millionaire Levi Leiter and commissioned on 16 September 1901 , Captain George A . Converse in command . Pre - World War I . After shakedown and training in Chesapeake Bay , the new battleship sailed on 20 November 1901 for Algiers , Louisiana , where she was used to test a new floating dry dock . She returned to Newport News in January 1902 , and from 15 – 28 February served as flagship for Rear Admiral R . D . Evans during the reception for Prince Albert Wilhelm Heinrich of Prussia . Bearing the flag of Rear Admiral A . S . Crowninshield , the battleship departed New York City on 30 April and arrived at Naples on 18 May , where the Admiral took command of the European Squadron . " Illinois " carried out training and ceremonial duties until 14 July , when she grounded in the harbor of Kristiania , Norway and had to return to England for repairs . She remained at Chatham Dockyard until 1 September , then proceeded to the Mediterranean and South Atlantic for fleet maneuvers . " Illinois " was detached from the European Squadron on 10 January 1903 and assigned to the North Atlantic . In 1906 , under the Command of Captain Blocklinger the Illinois was the first ship to win the famous Prince Louis Battenberg Cup . She engaged in fleet maneuvers , gunnery and seamanship training , and ceremonial operations until December 1907 , when she joined the " Great White Fleet " for the cruise around the world . Following a Presidential review , the mighty battleships sailed from Hampton Roads on their important voyage . The Atlantic Fleet joined the Pacific Fleet on 8 May 1908 in San Francisco Bay , and after a review by the Secretary of the Navy , the combined fleets continued their cruise . The ships visited Australia , Japan , Ceylon , and other countries , arriving at Suez on 3 January 1909 . At Suez , word of the 1908 Messina earthquake sent " Illinois " , , and to Messina . After rendering valuable aid to victims of the disaster , the ships rejoined the fleet , returning to Hampton Roads on 22 February . President Theodore Roosevelt reviewed the fleet as it arrived , having given the world a graphic demonstration of America ' s naval might . " Illinois " decommissioned at Boston , Massachusetts on 4 August . " Illinois " underwent a major modernization , receiving new " cage " masts and more modern equipment . World War I . The battleship was placed in reserve commission on 15 April 1912 and recommissioned on 2 November , in time to take part in winter fleet exercises and battle maneuvers with the Atlantic Fleet . In the summers of 1913 – 1914 , " Illinois " made training cruises to Europe with midshipmen . In 1919 , the ship was again laid up at Philadelphia Navy Yard until she was loaned to the State of New York on 23 October 1921 for use by the Naval Militia . " Illinois " was given the hull number BB - 7 in July 1920 . Inter - war period and beyond . Excluded from further use as a warship by the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty , " Illinois " was fitted out as a floating armory at New York Navy Yard in 1924 and was assigned to the New York Naval Militia . She remained there for more than 30 years , though reclassified IX - 15 on 8 January 1941 and renamed Prairie State to allow her name to be assigned to a projected new battleship , . During World War II , she served as a Naval Reserve Midshipmen Training School at New York . Following the war , she was retained on loan to the State as quarters for a Naval Reserve unit until 31 December 1956 . " Prairie State " , after over 50 years of useful service to the Navy and the Nation , was towed to Baltimore , Maryland , and sold for scrap to Bethlehem Steel Company on 18 May 1956 . Silver Service . On 17 November 1901 , " Illinois " was presented with a silver service dining set provided by the state of Illinois and presented by Senator William E . Mason . It consisted of a large and small punch bowl , two candelabra , an ornamented fruit dish , a small fruit dish , two epicurean dishes , a large centerpiece and a ladle . Each item featured engravings of the crest of Illinois and an ear of corn . It was a tradition for states to provide a silver service to ships named after them . The silver was purchased by the state of Illinois after " Illinois " was decommissioned . It is stored in the breakfront in the state dining room of the Illinois Executive Mansion . References . Footnotes Bibliography