
The SS Admiral St Louis has a rich maritime past that's worth exploring. The ship was built in 1944 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation.
It served in the United States Navy during World War II, playing a significant role in the war effort. The SS Admiral St Louis was primarily used as a cargo ship, transporting vital supplies and equipment to various locations.
One notable aspect of the ship's history is its involvement in the D-Day invasion of Normandy. The SS Admiral St Louis was among the ships that carried troops and supplies to the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944.
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History
The Admiral was a familiar sight on the St. Louis river for decades, departing on its first excursion cruise from the St. Louis waterfront in June 1940.
She had a capacity of 4400 passengers and was a popular attraction. The boat was later converted to diesel-props in the winter of 1973-1974, with a total of 2700 horsepower from three engines.
The Admiral underwent a significant renovation in the 1970s, but the details of this process are unclear.
The Calliope
The calliope is a type of musical instrument that was commonly used on steamboats in the past.
It's a unique instrument that produces sound through a series of pipes, often played by a skilled musician known as a calliopist.
The calliope was a staple on many steamboats, including the Streckfus Steamer Admiral.
On the Admiral, the calliope was played by Dick Renna in 1969.
The Admiral's calliope was recorded live on August 24, 1969, at St. Louis, MO.
The recording captures the calliope's sounds while the boat was in dock and while coming back upstream.
The calliope's climax is particularly notable when the boat passes under two bridges before laying up in port to disembark passengers.
The two bridges are the MacArthur Bridge and the Poplar Street bridge.
Later History
The Admiral was a familiar sight on the river for decades after departing on her first excursion cruise from the St. Louis waterfront in June 1940 with a capacity of 4400 passengers.

In the winter of 1973-1974, she was converted to diesel-props, with a total of 2700 hp from three engines.
The Admiral underwent a major renovation in the 1970s, but the details of this renovation are not specified.
She was later operated by Six Flags in the late 1980s, but the venture was shut down due to high costs.
In the early 1990s, the Admiral was operated from moorings near Eads Bridge as the President Casinos, boasting 1,230 slot machines, 59 gaming tables, 18 restrooms, and one restaurant.
The Admiral's final years were marked by a significant decline, and she was eventually towed from St. Louis to be dismantled on July 19, 2011.
Ship Details
The SS Admiral St. Louis was a passenger ship that was built in 1914 by the Maryland Steel Company. It had a gross tonnage of 12,450 tons.
The ship was 535 feet 6 inches long and 72 feet 6 inches wide, making it a significant vessel in its time. It had a draft of 28 feet 6 inches.
The SS Admiral St. Louis had a top speed of 17 knots and was powered by a combination of steam turbines and reciprocating engines. It was equipped with two funnels and a single mast.
The ship had a capacity for over 2,000 passengers and crew, making it a major transportation hub during its operational years.
Sources
- https://www.steamboats.org/steamboat-pictures/admiral.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Admiral_(1907)
- https://www.stlmag.com/news/The-SS-Admiral-Makes-its-Last-Voyage/
- https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/SS_Admiral
- https://yesterdaystrails.wordpress.com/2019/08/16/ssa1263-ss-admiral-excursion-ship-at-st-louis-mo-1950/
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