The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 31 October 1973 and her keel was laid down on 20 January 1981.

The previous Saint Paul, was the last big-gun heavy cruiser in the United States Navy, and held the distinction of having fired World War II's final (naval) shots.

Four crew members were washed overboard by heavy waves on 29 December 2006 in Plymouth Sound, England, as the ship was exiting HMNB Devonport on the surface following a port call.

[1][2] Minneapolis–Saint Paul conducted inter-fleet transfer from Norfolk, Virginia, to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, in July 2007 for decommissioning.

Custody of Minneapolis-Saint Paul was transferred to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in August 2008.