President (steamboat)

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PRESIDENT (steamboat)
(U.S. National Historic Landmark)
The S.S. President steamboat
Location:	Alton, Illinois
Built/Founded:	1924
Architect:	Midland Barge Co.
Designated as NHL:	December 20, 1989[1]
Added to NRHP:	December 20, 1989[2]
NRHP Reference#:	89002460
Governing body:	Private

President is a steamboat located in Alton, Illinois that it is out of service and currently for sale.^[1] Originally named Cincinnati, it was built in 1924,^[3] and is the only remaining "Western Rivers" style sidewheel river excursion steamboat in the United States.^[1] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989.^[1][4]

Its home ports have been Cincinnati, Ohio, New Orleans, Louisiana, Vicksburg, Mississippi, St. Louis, Missouri and Davenport, Iowa.

Contents 1 History 2 Casino 3 Location 4 References 5 External links

[edit] History

Built in 1924 and then known as Cincinnati, it was originally an overnight packet boat that carried passengers and freight from Cincinnati, Ohio to Louisville, Kentucky. Her first trip was to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.

In 1929, she was acquired by the Streckfus Company which briefly continued her use as a packet boat, but then laid her up until 1932. Streckfus moved her to her new homeport of St. Louis, Missouri and over the next two years, the ship was converted to become the largest excursion boat in America. The entire superstructure was rebuilt of steel, and a two-deck-high ballroom was added, as well as a bandstand. It was also at this time that she received her new name, President.

Newly converted and newly named, it opened for business in 1934 and Streckfus advertised her as "the New 5 Deck Luxury Super Steamer, Biggest and Finest On The Upper Mississippi." She continued tramping (having no fixed schedule or published ports of call)[1] until 1941. In 1940, she was displaced from her position as flagship of the Streckfuss line by the S.S. Admiral.

In 1941, the boat switched her home port to New Orleans. Because fuel oil was restricted and many of the young crewmen had joined the armed forces, tramping was discontinued, and the cruises stayed close to home. When World War II ended, the she remained in New Orleans as a popular nightspot.

Because the wind made maneuvering the big boat difficult, she had her two side wheels removed and replaced by 1,000-horsepower diesel engines in 1978.

She was sold in 1985 and returned to St. Louis as her homeport. While there, she was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark on Dec. 20, 1989.

[edit] Casino

In 1990, President went on its last dinner and dancing cruise before undergoing a ten million dollar renovation and then conversion into a floating casino. It was purchased by what is now known as Isle of Capri Casinos. In 1991, Iowa legalized riverboat gambling and the President opened in Davenport, Iowa with 27,000 square feet of gaming space.^[5]

[edit] Location

The President retired from service in 1999 and was reported, in 2004, to be located on the Yazoo River in Mississippi. At that time, it was for sale by Isle of Capri Casinos.^[6]

It also may have been located at Treasure Island in Lake McKellar at Memphis, Tennessee.

It may also be located in Alton, Illinois, where the National Park Service listed it in November, 2007,^[7] and where it is described as being out of service and for sale.^[1]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Steamboats.org entry

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