USS Galena, a 1900-ton steam screw sloop built at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, was commissioned in August 1880. Her initial deployment was to the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean in 1881-82, followed by a tour as flagship of the South Atlantic Squadron. The remainder of her service was spent off the U.S. and Canadian east coasts and in the Caribbean area. In March 1891, while out of commission and under tow of a tug, Galena went ashore on Martha's Vinyard, Massachusetts. Though salvaged, repairs were deemed too costly and she was sold in May 1892.