If you knew about the original saloon, which stood at 411 East 10th Street for more than a half century, you probably liked to drink, because this bar was about serious boozing. The drinks were cheap (which is why I loved it) and it attracted a distinctly raffish clientele. It had also, by the time city officials decreed that the building should be razed in 1996, outlasted almost everything else in the neighborhood: bars, theaters, diners, even the old YMCA.
But back to the interior of The Ship, which mysteriously survived the bulldozers in 1996. It looked like a stage set for the 1934 Broadway musical Anything Goes, complete with portholes, an upper deck and a mechanism behind the walls that sent gravel through metal screens to create the sound of waves.
Jones was horrified when he heard, shortly before the building was scheduled to be torn down in 1996 (the land is now part of Ilus Davis Park) that the remarkable interior was to be scrapped.
"The powers-that-be at City Hall decided to whack Kansas City's Bowery District," Jones explains.
Jones installed it one one of his buildings and, remarkably, it looks much as it did in its original 10th Street location. It was the most amazing case of Deja Vu I've ever experienced -- and cold stone sober!
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Yes it is, I actually just got done restoring it, looks great the sign itself is 44 inchs tall and just over 16' long does this sound about right
Troy: Yes, it did have an exterior neon sign, right above the door. Is your sign written in cursive?
I can still smell vomit emanating from the head. Or was that the cleaning cubicle...........Oh well.
I recently purchased a sign reading THE SHIP from a lady in kansas it's very big 44in by 16 feet did that place have an exterior neon sign?
I knew nothing of The Ship but really love to hear stories about people preserving things like this on their own.
I just do not know where to begin. This is a great piece of history, as well as a great drinking establishment. I am scheduleing a trip to KC after the first of the year to see this miracle of miracles. My first encounter with the neighborhood was in 1970 through about 1973. I was going to Rockhurst at the time and fell in love with KC and some of its bawdier joints. And I would like to know about the speak easy that Colby writes of... History never tasted so good. Oh yeah, used to work the "Missouri Valley Room" , best job I ever had.
Phil
Pam Francis used to sing there. Her husband Roger is a great guitarist and singer. I'll let them know.
Hey Charles,
Call me at the restaurant, I know of a really bad ass speakeasy in house for sale in Armour Hills that is completely intact. They have FBI files on some pretty famous people that they knew frequented this exact basement.
Colby
Well apparently the secret is out... never thought I would be reading about The Ship here!
The Ship is THE best bar space in all of KC, hands down. Re-reading this post, it appears they are still just using it for 'private parties' as you didn't mention the actual location or suggest they were anywhere near being open for regular business. That is kind of too bad... I would love to be able to visit there when I'm back in KC.
My grandfather owned the Lawyer's Building a block down from where the original Ship was (his building was demolished too to create the park across from the Federal Courthouse). He spent pretty much every evening at the Ship and had 'his' table there, etc. It was really cool to be able to go to the new Ship and drink at the same bar he spent so much time at.
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