The riverboat was built in 1923 and served along the Ohio River for ten years. In 1933, it became a St. Louis passenger steamship and later on, an entertainment vessel. It was reincarnated in 1991 as one of the country’s first gambling boats by President Casinos in Davenport, Iowa. Now the historic vessel is in the process of being dismantled in Alton.

The five story riverboat is being taken apart in 15 sections so that it can be more easily moved to its final destination in St. Elmo, Illinois where it will be converted into a 80-room hotel, convention center and museum at its new permanent mooring in Tower Lake. The project is a joint venture between the town of St. Elmo and a group of seven investors.

A crew from the Discovery Channel are documenting the entire process for the new season of their show “Mega Moves” which will air sometime after the next season starts in January. There is also talk of a documentary focusing on the history of the riverboat and the entertainers who played on it through the years including Louis Armstrong, Tina Turner, Arlo Guthrie and the rock band U2.