 She arrived at Chicago, Illinois on 29 June 1911, and was decommissioned 22 July for use as a training ship by the Illinois Naval Militia.Recommissioned on 4 August 1914, "Dubuque" sailed three days later for Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where she was placed in commission in reserve 3 October.She was fitted out as a mine-training ship and on 30 July 1915 she returned to a fully commissioned status and was assigned to Mining and Minesweeping Division, Atlantic Fleet.