Mark Twain Expressway

 

A section of Interstate 70 in St. Louis, Missouri is designated the Mark Twain Expressway. Interstate 70 traverses nearly the width of the US, serving major metropolitan areas such as Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Columbus and Baltimore. The west end connects with Interstate 15 at Cove Fort, Utah with no plans to extend I-70 west beyond that point. Bill Fleming's illustration for the Portland Cement Association captures the highway's original, simple course near Lambert-St. Louis Airport in 1960. 

Ozark Air Lines

Founded in 1943, Ozark Air Lines operated flights between Springfield and St. Louis, Missouri for about two years until the Civil Aeronautics Board ceased their operations. By 1950, Ozark was granted a certificate to operate unactivated routes using Douglas DC-3s from St. Louis to Chicago, Tulsa and Memphis. In 1955 the airline had 13 DC-3s flying to 35 cities between Sioux City, Indianapolis, Wichita, and Nashville. By 1960, turboprop Fairchild F-27s were introduced along with piston-engine Martin 4-0-4s in 1964. By 1967 the 4-0-4s and F-27s were replaced with newer Fairchild Hiller FH-227s. The last DC-3 flight was in 1968, making the regional airline an all-turbine operator. Ozark's first jets, Douglas DC-9-10s, were introduced in 1966.

Ozark Air Line's main hub and headquarters were St. Louis Lambert International Airport from 1950-86. Ozark was then purchased by Trans World Airlines and by 2001, itself merged into American Airlines. 

A Mississippi River Icon

 

The SS Admiral was a famous excursion steamboat operating on the Mississippi River from the Port of St. Louis, Missouri until 1978. From 1938 to 1940 Steamers Service Company rebuilt the metal hulled SS Albatross into five decks, two of which were air-conditioned---an unheard-of luxury at the time. The exterior and its interior furnishings and decorations were designed in the Art Deco style. The futuristic outward "casing" hid the side paddles and "gingerbread" details of traditional steamers under sleek steel designed and fabricated by Banner Iron Works. The largest passenger vessel on US inland waterways at the time, the 374' Admiral departed on her first excursion cruise from the St. Louis waterfront in June 1940. The steamer could carry as many as 4,400 passengers. Among the ship's many amenities included food service, a large ballroom, and a lido deck. Steam power gave way to diesel power by the early Seventies. The ship was briefly re-purposed as an amusement center in 1987, then converted to a casino in 1990. The boat was dismantled for scrap metal in 2011.