[3] Admiral descended from the metal-hulled sidewheeler Albatross, a ferry for heavy vehicles owned by the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad.

A bridge completed in 1930 rendered Albatross obsolete for its intended purpose,[5] and it was retired from ferry service after 23 years.

[5] Albatross was acquired in 1935 by Streckfus Steamers, a company that ran excursion boats along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.

The two massive piston shafts that drove the side paddle wheels were nicknamed Popeye and Wimpy and were visible from the lower deck.

A large ballroom — with a capacity of about 2,000 — occupied most of the second deck, overlooked by ceiling tiles decorated with signs of the zodiac.

Facing an estimated US$1.5 million in repairs to the aging boat, Streckfus Steamers sold her two years later for US$600,000 to Pittsburgh businessman John E. Connelly, who had plans to move it to his hometown, though they were never realized.

The group subscribed former owner Connelly as an investor; less than a year later, however, the partnership was losing US$100,000 per month and defaulted on US$10 million in loan payments.

About 19:50 CST on April 4, 1998, the MV Anne Holly was pushing 12 loaded and two empty barges northbound on the Mississippi River through the St. Louis Harbor, struck the Missouri-side pier of the center span of the Eads Bridge.

[10] With the motorless Admiral wedged against the bank, rescue boats worked for hours shuttling about 2,500 people to safety.

[11] In June 2005, it was reported that Columbia Sussex Corp. wanted to buy the President Casino on Admiral and replace it with a new vessel.

[12] In August 2008, owner Pinnacle Entertainment was considering moving the boat north to the area near the Chain of Rocks Bridge.

After the state refused to approve the deal, Pinnacle surrendered its gambling license and sold to St. Louis Marine in 2010.

The top decks were removed, but further dismantling was delayed by the 2011 Mississippi River floods, which made it impossible to move the vessel downstream under the Eads Bridge.

[8] The hull was then towed to Calvert City, Kentucky, where it was hauled out on the bank of the Tennessee River and scrapping was completed.