Topic starter
15/03/2010 2:22 pm
Herewith is a photo I came across of the St. Louis riverfront in 1973. In the foreground is the Str. ADMIRAL, followed by the BECKY THATCHER (former Str. MISSISSIPPI), GOLDENROD SHOWBOAT, HUCK FINN and, in the distance, the restaurant boat LT. ROBERT E. LEE, built on the hull of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers snagboat CHARLES H. WEST. This was the last season that the ADMIRAL ran as a steamboat before being dieselized. Note the small cloud of steam emanating from her starboard side near the waterline.
With the news last week that the ADMIRAL (now relegated to a casino) is to be towed away (likely to oblivion) soon, this will pretty much "close the book" on all the boats in this photograph. With the BECKY sunk and demolished at Pittsburgh, the GOLDENROD deteriorating along the Illinois River at Kampsville, the HUCK FINN now the SPIRIT OF JEFFERSON here at Louisville, and the LT. ROBERT E. LEE mothballed, there's no more lively activity at the now virtually empty levee! The Streckfus wharfboat was sold to a barge line and moved to a new site.
Thanks for the memories!
15/03/2010 11:45 pm
After work today I decided to pay a visit to the Admiral Casino. Having not been on board since before the move from Washington Ave & the Casino company to close the Admiral Casino 'before July 1' and with the River at about 28ft today I calculated it would be very easy to close and not reopen should Wharf Street flood.
After taking several exterior pictures from public property I decided to board and just see what limited area was open. A posted sign announced some weekday hours as 1000 to 0200. Weekends longer. I was turned away because I would not check my junk bag that I bring to work, a bag about the size of a small computer carry case--NO computer inside. As I was walking away two women were approaching one carrying a small shoulder bag the other an enormous bulging shoulder bag, much larger in total area than my junk bag! I stopped and watched as they walked right past the woman who would not let me in with my carry case. It was very obvious from the greetings between them that the two were regular customers.
From what I could see only the former ballroom was open. Main deck gate down. I could not see the Mez.
16/03/2010 1:45 am
ADMIRAL
Wow, I didn't realize they weren't using the whole boat anymore. Do they check bags like a security check now? I wonder what would have happened if you had followed the women again and tried to get in with the bag?