Final curtain: The damaged Goldenrod Showboat poses for pictures one last time

The gloom of the skies over the Illinois River matched the mood aboard the historic Goldenrod Showboat Wednesday afternoon, as one of her loyal guardians ushered reporters and photographers around the creaky vessel for one last photo op.

The 106-year-old showboat appears to be headed for the salvage yard. The vessel suffered serious structural damage after it was moved on July 25 -- just feet from where it had been moored for years near Kampsville, Ill. Flooding on the river had put the showboat in a precarious position, and this was thought to be a safer -- and level -- location, said Jake Medford, vice president of the nonprofit Historic Riverboat Preservation Association.

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