 Yorktown was laid down by William Cramp and Sons of Philadelphia in May 1887 and launched in April 1888 . She was just over 244 feet ( 74 m ) long and 36 feet ( 11 m ) abeam , and displaced 1 @,@ 710 long tons ( 1 @,@ 740 t ) . She was equipped with two steam engines which were supplemented with three schooner @-@ rigged masts . The ship 's main battery consisted of six 6 @-@ inch ( 15 @.@ 2 cm ) guns and was augmented by an assortment of smaller @-@ caliber guns . 
