She was laid down on 28 April 1919 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco, California; launched on 25 July 1919; sponsored by Mrs. Katharine Kellond, granddaughter of Rear Admiral Selfridge; and commissioned on 17 February 1921.

Selfridge arrived at her home port, San Diego, California, on 16 March 1921 and remained there until June 1922, when she proceeded to the Puget Sound area for exercises with the fleet.

With the fleet, she then visited New York and participated in a joint Army-Navy exercise in Narragansett Bay before arriving at Hampton Roads on 29 May for a Presidential Review.

She was then assigned duty with the Special Service Squadron protecting lives and property of United States and other foreign citizens in Nicaragua and helping peacekeeping operations.

She returned to San Diego on 23 June and, after a two-week training cruise to Honolulu, underwent overhaul at Mare Island from 26 July to 19 September.