 Construction of the ships was authorized on 30 June 1890 and the contract for Massachusetts — not including guns and armor — was awarded to William Cramp & Sons of Philadelphia , who offered to build it for $ 3 @,@ 020 @,@ 000 . The total cost of the ship was almost twice as high , approximately $ 6 @,@ 000 @,@ 000 . The contract specified the ship had to be built in three years , but slow delivery of armor plates and guns caused a delay . Her keel was laid down on 25 June 1891 and she was launched two years later on 10 June 1893 . The launching ceremony was attended by thousands of people , including Secretary of the Navy Hilary A. Herbert and commander George Dewey . Her preliminary sea trial did not take place until March 1896 because of the delays in armor and gun deliveries . At this point Massachusetts was almost complete , and her official trial was held a month later . 
