Above is an old photograph of the conversion of the Albatross to the Admiral, long an institution providing cruises up and down the Mississippi River. I never saw the Admiral in its glory days; by the time I visited the boat it was permanently moored on the riverfront. My family and I went to the grand opening of its retooling as a family amusement center; the air conditioning was broken and it was sweltering inside. I later visited it once to see its conversion to a casino, and it was obvious the boat has long seen better days. My students told me tales of grown men screaming at the sight of gigantic rats racing up and down the table games, while women always kept their purses in their laps to keep the cockroaches out of them. I wish the old boat could have been saved, but it was not to be.
Showing posts with label historic boats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label historic boats. Show all posts
Saturday, July 23, 2011
The Admiral Has Left the Levee
Above is an old photograph of the conversion of the Albatross to the Admiral, long an institution providing cruises up and down the Mississippi River. I never saw the Admiral in its glory days; by the time I visited the boat it was permanently moored on the riverfront. My family and I went to the grand opening of its retooling as a family amusement center; the air conditioning was broken and it was sweltering inside. I later visited it once to see its conversion to a casino, and it was obvious the boat has long seen better days. My students told me tales of grown men screaming at the sight of gigantic rats racing up and down the table games, while women always kept their purses in their laps to keep the cockroaches out of them. I wish the old boat could have been saved, but it was not to be.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Robert E. Lee Riverboat Staying in St. Louis
The Post-Dispatch reports that local father and son have bought the Robert E. Lee, a semi-historic riverboat that was once the highest grossing restaurant in St. Louis. I remember it fondly, along with White Castle, as the first restaurant I ate at back in 1985. It was really good, and I wish it were still around in that form. But luckily, St. Louisans have decided their heritage should stay here.
Which brings me to the real point: what will happen to the Admiral? It is arguably more historic than the Robert E. Lee, but the writing has been on the wall with the old Albatross for several years; it will be sold for scrap in a decade if no one in St. Louis rises to the occasion as the two gentlemen have for the Robert E. Lee. The Admiral's life as a casino is rapidly coming to a close; it is no longer a question of if, but of when.
Which brings me to the real point: what will happen to the Admiral? It is arguably more historic than the Robert E. Lee, but the writing has been on the wall with the old Albatross for several years; it will be sold for scrap in a decade if no one in St. Louis rises to the occasion as the two gentlemen have for the Robert E. Lee. The Admiral's life as a casino is rapidly coming to a close; it is no longer a question of if, but of when.
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