Rhode Island Picture Post Cards
USS Rhode Island (BB-17) Shown here in her original Configuration

The USS Rhode Island BB-17 was built by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company of Quincy, Massachusetts. She was commissioned on February 19, 1906 with Captain Perry Garst in command.

After acceptance trials Rhode Island was assigned to Squadron 1 in the Atlantic Fleet on January 1, 1907.

On December 16, 1907, USS Rhode Island began a cruise to circumnavigate the globe as part of Teddy Roosevelt's Great White fleet. During the first leg of the cruise, Rhode Island made port calls in Trinidad, Rio de Janeiro, Punta Arenas, Callao and Magdalena Bay arriving in San Diego, California on April 14, 1908.

USS Rhode Island and the fleet departed San Francisco on July 7, 1908 to begin  the second leg of the cruise, arriving back in Norfolk, Virginia on February 23, 1909.

Rhode Island underwent overhaul and modernization at the New York Navy Yard during the latter part of 1909.  Rhode Island continued to serve the Navy as a primary warship until May 15, 1916 when she was placed in reserve commission.

USS Rhode Island was returned to full commission on March 27, 1917 shortly after the United States entered the World War.  Rhode Island was then assigned to anti-submarine patrol duty off Tangier Island, Maryland until April of 1918.

After the war ended in November 1918, Rhode Island was commandeered as a troop carrier and assisted in returning American troops from France. Rhode Island made five round trip voyages between December 1918 and July 1919. During this period she carried over 5000 troops from France back to the United States.

USS Rhode Island was decommissioned on June 30, 1920 and placed in reserve status. In accordance with the Washington Naval Armaments Treaty, Rhode Island was sold and scrapped on November 1, 1923.