NOTE: ILLINOIS BB-65, an IOWA class battleship under 
construction by Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, was canceled 12 
August 1945

ILLINOIS BB-7

From: DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL FIGHTING SHIPS, James L. 
Mooney, ed., Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy, 
Washington, DC., 1968

displacement. 11,565
length. 368'
beam. 72'3"
draft. 23'6"
complement. 660
speed. 17
k. armament. 4 13", 14 6", 16 6-pdr., 6 1-pdr., 4 tt.
class. ILLINIOIS  

ILLINOIS (BB-7) was laid down 10 February 1897. by the Newport 
News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Va., launched 4 
October 1898; sponsored by Miss Nancy Leiter; and commissioned 
16 September 1901, Captain G. A. Converse in command.

After shakedown and training in Chesapeake Bay, the new 
battleship sailed 20 November 1901 for Algiers, La., where she 
was used to test a new floating dry dock. She returned to 
Newport News in January 1902 and from 15 to 28 February ILLINOIS 
served as flagship for Rear Admiral R. D. Evans during the 
reception for Prince Henry of Prussia. Bearing the flag of Rear 
Admiral A. S.  Crowninshield, the battleship departed New York 
30 April 1902 and arrived Naples 18 May, where the Admiral took  
command of the European Squadron. ILLINOIS carried out training 
and ceremonial duties until 14 July 1902, when she grounded in 
the harbor of Christiana, Norway, and had to return to England 
for repairs. She remained at Chatham until 1 September 1902, 
then proceeded to the Mediterranean and South Atlantic for fleet 
maneuvers.

ILLINOIS  was detached from the European Squadron 10 January 
1903 and assigned to the North Atlantic. 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 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 Suez 3  January 1909. At Suez word of the 
Sicilian earthquake sent ILLINOIS, CONNECTICUT, and CULOGA to 
Messina. After  rendering valuable aid to victims of the 
disaster, the ships rejoined the fleet, returning to Hampton 
Roads 22 February 1909. President Roosevelt reviewed the fleet 
as it arrived, having given the world a graphic  demonstration 
of America's naval might. ILLINOIS decommissioned at Boston 4 
August 1909.

The battleship was placed in reserve commission 15 April 1912 
and recocommissioned 2 November 1912, in time to take part in 
winter fleet exercises and battle maneuvers with the Atlantic 
Fleet. During the summers of 1913 and 1914 ILLINOIS made 
training cruises to Europe with  Midshipmen. In 1919 the ship 
was again laid up at  Philadelphia Navy Yard and was later 
loaned to the State of New York 23 October 1921 for use by the 
Naval Militia.

Excluded from further use as a warship by the terms of the 
Washington treaty, ILLINOIS was fitted out as a  floating armory 
at New York Navy Yard in 1924 and was  assigned to the New York 
Naval Reserve. She remained there for more than 30 years, though 
reclassified IX-15 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 U. S. 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 and sold for scrap to 
Bethlehem Steel Co., 18 May 1956.

Transcribed and edited by"
Larry W. Jewell
jewell@mace.cc.purdue.edu