Arts

Admiral riverboat says farewell to St. Louis

St. Louis Public Radio

Published July 19, 2011 at 12:48 PM CDT

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The S.S. Admiral is towed down the Mississippi River under the Eads Bridge toward Columbia, Ill. on July 19, 2011. The long-time St. Louis fixture will be further broken down in Columbia.

(Kelsey Proud/St. Louis Public Radio)

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The Admiral riverboat is helped down the Mississippi River by the tugboat Michael Luhr past the Gateway Arch in St. Louis on July 19, 2011.

UPI | Bill Greenblatt

The S. S. Admiral, built in 1907 and a long-time fixture of the Mississippi riverfront in St. Louis, was towed away Tuesday to be dismantled.

Columbia, Ill. will be the final dock for the riverboat following a long process of dismantling and an unsuccessful attempt to auction the vessel off on eBay.

The President Casino was formerly housed in the boat until last June, when the casino's parent company, Pinnacle Entertainment, surrendered its gaming license.

Also, check out our "Remembering the Admiral" segment from Cityscape - it's a discussion about the Admiral and memories of St. Louisans who experienced it during its many years of traveling up and down the Mississippi River.