SS Admiral (1907) facts for kids
Admiral in 2006
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Route | Mississippi River |
| Launched | 1907 |
| Acquired | 1937 |
| In service | 1940 |
| Out of service | 1979 |
| Fate |
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| General characteristics | |
| Length | 374 ft (114 m) |
| Beam | 92 ft (28 m) |
| Decks | 5 |
| Capacity | 4400 |
The SS Admiral was a famous steamboat that took people on fun trips along the Mississippi River. It sailed from St. Louis, Missouri for many years, from 1940 to 1978. Later, it became a fun amusement center in 1987 and then a casino in 1990. The Admiral was taken apart for scrap metal starting in 2011.
Contents
From Ferry to Fun Ship
The SS Admiral started its life as a different ship called the SS Albatross. This ship was a ferry that carried heavy vehicles, like railcars, across the Mississippi River. It was owned by the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad.
Crossing the River
Back then, there was no bridge over the Mississippi River at Vicksburg, Mississippi. So, trains used special ferry ships to move their railcars. The Albatross had train tracks built right onto its deck. Railcars would roll onto the ship, travel a short distance, and then roll off onto tracks on the other side of the river.
A New Purpose
In 1930, a bridge was finally built over the Mississippi River. This meant the Albatross was no longer needed as a ferry. After 23 years of service, it was retired.
Building the Admiral
In 1935, a company called Streckfus Steamers bought the Albatross. This company was known for running fun excursion boats on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. They decided to give the metal-hulled ship a huge makeover.
A Big Makeover
Streckfus Steamers added a five-story, steel structure to the ship. The new design was finished in 1940. The ship was then renamed the SS Admiral. It measured 374 feet (114 meters) long.
Art Deco Design
The outside of the Admiral was designed in a cool style called Art Deco. A young artist named Mazie Krebs created the design in 1933. She also designed another ship for Streckfus, the SS President. The Admiral's rebuild cost over $700,000, which was a lot of money back then!
Strong and Modern
The Streckfus Company spent more than $1 million rebuilding the ship. It had five decks, and two of them even had air conditioning, which was a luxury at the time. The ship's steel hull was divided into 74 sections. This meant that even if up to 11 sections filled with water, the ship could still float!
Fun Excursion Cruises
The SS Admiral began its first fun cruise from St. Louis in June 1940. This huge steamboat could carry as many as 4,400 passengers! It offered many cool things to do, like food service, a big ballroom, and a sunny lido deck.
Onboard Activities
When you boarded the Admiral, you would first reach the main deck. Here, you could buy popcorn and souvenirs. The second and third decks were air-conditioned and known as the "Cabin."
The Ballroom
A huge ballroom took up most of the second deck. It could hold about 2,000 people! The ceiling tiles were decorated with signs of the Zodiac. There were tables and booths all around, and a bandstand for live music. This deck also had a bar and a snack stand.
Mezzanine Level
The third deck, or mezzanine level, had large windows with great views. It featured several dining and lounge areas. There was even a fancy powder room named after the famous actress Greta Garbo. All the inside decorations were in the stylish Art Deco design.
Open-Air Decks
The fourth level had open windows, making it partly open-air. This deck had the main kitchen, a large lounge, a dining area, a cafeteria, and a soda jerk (someone who made sodas and ice cream treats).
The very top deck was called the "lido deck." This was the only completely open-air spot on the Admiral. From here, you could enjoy amazing views of landmarks like the Gateway Arch, the Eads Bridge, and the Martin Luther King Bridge. You could even use coin-operated telescopes for close-up views. The ship's pilothouse, whistles, lights, and calliope (a musical instrument that plays steam whistles) were also on the lido deck.
Switching to Diesel
In 1973, Streckfus Steamers changed the Admiral from steam power to diesel power. The large shafts that turned the paddlewheels were removed. Instead, the ship got diesel propellers on its sides and one at the back. These were powered by big Caterpillar engines.
Becoming a Stationary Attraction
In 1979, the United States Coast Guard said the Admiral's hull was too old and unsafe for sailing. This meant the ship could no longer travel on the Mississippi River. Streckfus Steamers decided to sell the ship in 1981.
New Owners and Renovations
The Admiral was sold to a businessman who planned to move it, but that never happened. It was later sold to a group of local investors. A company called Six Flags Admiral Corporation then took over. They spent $31 million to renovate the ship! The fourth and fifth decks were enclosed, and the ship was painted silver. They added a theater, restaurants, and a sports bar to the retired ship.
Opening as an Entertainment Center
The Admiral opened as an entertainment center in 1987. It had several music stages, a restaurant, and a special "Birdland Theater" with animated, mechanical birds that played music.
A Casino on the River
After the early 1990s, the Admiral became a casino. It was docked near the Eads Bridge and known as the President Casino Laclede's Landing. It had 1,230 slot machines, 59 gaming tables, and a restaurant.
Barge Collision
On April 4, 1998, a group of barges being pushed by a tugboat hit the Eads Bridge. Eight barges broke free and drifted towards the Admiral.
Damage to the Ship
The drifting barges struck the Admiral, breaking most of its ropes that held it in place. The Admiral then started to spin away from the riverbank. The captain of the tugboat quickly pushed his vessel against the Admiral's front to hold it against the bank.
Aftermath
No one died in the accident, but 50 people were checked for minor injuries. Sixteen people were sent to hospitals. The damage to the Admiral was estimated at $11 million. Rescue boats worked for hours to safely move about 2,500 people from the ship to the shore.
Final Journey
In 2005, there were talks about replacing the Admiral with a new casino boat. In 2008, the owner considered moving the boat further north, but the state did not approve.
Dismantling the Admiral
In 2010, the Admiral's gambling license was given up, and the ship was sold to St. Louis Marine. The top decks were removed. However, further dismantling was delayed because of the 2011 Mississippi River floods. The high water made it impossible to move the ship under the Eads Bridge.
Once the river went down, the remains of the Admiral were moved on July 19, 2011, to Columbia, Illinois, where its lower decks were taken apart. The hull was then towed to Calvert City, Kentucky, and finally taken out of the water to be completely scrapped.
Images for kids
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Admiral in 2006
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Admiral moored in the Mississippi River, just north of the Gateway Arch
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Admiral, minus her upper decks, is towed from St. Louis to be dismantled on July 19, 2011
