USS Boston, a 3189-ton Atlanta class protected cruiser, was built at Chester, Pennsylvania, and commissioned in May 1887. One of the first ships of the "New Navy", she operated actively in the Atlantic until 1891. For much of that time she was a member of the Squadron of Evolution, and cruised with that unit to the Mediterranean Sea and South America between early December 1889 and late July 1890. In 1891 Boston went around Cape Horn to the Pacific, where she spent the rest of her career. During much of 1892 and 1893 she was stationed in Hawaii and in November 1893 was laid up at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California.

Recommissioned in November 1895, Boston crossed the Pacific to take station in Asiatic waters. During the Spanish-American War in 1898, she participated in the Battle of Manila Bay and in subsequent operations in the Philippines. After her return to the U.S. in August 1899 the cruiser was laid up at Mare Island. She returned to active duty in August 1902 for operation with the Pacific Squadron. In June 1905 she represented the Navy at the Lewis and Clark Exposition at Portland, Oregon, and in April and May 1906 assisted with earthquake recovery efforts at San Francisco, California.

Boston's seagoing Navy career ended in June 1907. Inactive at the Puget Sound Navy Yard until June 1911, she then began a tour as Oregon Naval Militia training ship, remaining in that position until September 1916. During much of the First World War the ship was on loan to the United States Shipping Board, but in 1918 Boston was converted for use as the receiving ship at the Yerba Buena Naval Training Station in San Francisco Bay. More than two decades later, in August 1940, she was renamed Despatch, thus freeing her original name for use on the new heavy cruiser CA-69. She was given the hull number IX-2 in February 1941 and remained at Yerba Buena through the Second World War. Following almost sixty years' service, the old ship was sunk as a target off San Francisco in April 1946.