In 1889 the first of the new corvettes was laid down, the Guadalupe; followed each year by her sisters Lampasas and Lavaca. Slightly smaller and more lightly armed than the Independence, they followed typical Texas design practices - shallow draft, fine hull form, and fast for their dimensions (16 knots to keep pace with the cruiser).
The Guadalupes were built in the United States and fitted with American steam plants and guns, with the exception of the 2.25"/40 Quick Firing guns, which were imported from Great Britain. The main armament was 6" guns of the same pattern on American protected cruisers.
The last of the sailing vessels were sold off, and the Guadalupes mark the formal shift from sail to steam. Only two sail/steam ships remained, thier cousins the Colorados, and after rebuilds their sails were eliminated and their steaming range expanded.