Naval History and Heritage Command

(ScFr: t. 2,354; l. 313'6"; b. 46'; dph. 17'1"; a. 18 9", 2 100‑pdr. P.r., 1 60‑pdr.; 2 20‑pdr. D.sb., 1 12‑pdr. D.r., 5 12‑pdr. sb.; cl. Java)

A lake in Minnesota.

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One of eight wooden steam frigates authorized by the Navy during the Civil War to provide a postwar general purpose fleet, Minnetonka was launched 3 July 1867 by the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H.; and sponsored by Miss Margaret Bailey. Renamed California 15 May 1869, she first went to sea 7 October 1870, and served briefly in the Pacific. However, because she had been constructed of but partially seasoned timber, due to all unprecedented volume of shipbuilding during the war, her hull deteriorated rapidly and she was sold at Mare Island Navy Yard in May 1875.