North American Steamboats Paddle Steamers

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA : STERNWHEELERS

At first sight, the United States of America would not appear to be a natural territory for the continued existence of paddlers, but the land which is credited with pioneering steam power, when in 1778, John Fitch sailed a small paddle driven boat on the Delaware River and in 1809 when Robert Fulton's "Steam Boat" sailed up the Hudson River to Albany heralding the start of the first commercially successful passenger service, retains a remarkably diverse fleet of vessels.

Steam ships were destined to become important in the westward expansion of the newly independent United States, taking passengers and goods to and from the interior along rivers such as the Hudson and Delaware. Stern-wheel paddlers on the mighty Mississippi River were to become an enduring image of the American Mid-West. The Great Lakes, Hudson River and the east coast estuaries were to see some of the mightiest coastal passenger vessels of their time, mostly owned by so-called "Night Lines" and these ships, offering overnight accommodation, were generally side-wheelers.

Whilst there are a few survivors from the golden age of steam still in operation, the USA has been vigilant in preserving its maritime history and paddlers have been amongst those to benefit. The romance of America's great push westwards in the 19th century has contributed to paddler making a comeback in recent years, with the construction of new tonnage (some genuinely in steam) for tourism on lakes and rivers. In the 1990s, a large number of paddlers were built, albeit for static use as casinos and restaurants, as it was found that in many States, ships were exempted from the strict gambling laws in force in most US states. Numerous so-called "mock" sternwheelers have been built, where diesel screw propulsion vessels have had an ornamental paddle wheel fitted, which turns only in the wake of the vessel. However, there are also numerous genuine modern diesel-powered sternwheelers built in the old style offering cruises at many places throughout the USA.

By 2007, all longer holiday cruises on paddlers with overnight accommodation in the USA were operated by Majestic America line. This operation has been closed after the 2008 season by its owners, Ambassadors International, who also operate deep-sea cruises and managed their inland operations along the same lines (ie on a completely different basis to how excursion stteamers would be operated and managed). This means that all 5 US "steamers" (3 in steam on the Mississippi and 2 modern diesel vessels in the Pacific North-west) relevant to this database are out of service and awaiting buyers.

Paddle Steamers registered in the USA's National Parks Service : Maritime Heritage Program

This list only includes steam-powered ships or ships which were originally steam powered

Click on vessel name if underlined for more details - and on "click" to go to vessel website

OPERATIONAL STERNWHEELERS - IN STEAM (Public Service)

EXCURSION PADDLE STEAMERS

VESSEL	BUILT	LOCATION	NOTES	WEBSITE	OTHER SITES
Natchez	1975	New Orleans, LA	Built in 1975 by Bergeronmachine Shop at Braithwaite, Louisiana. Engines second hand, ex - Clairton, a towboat Sails for the New Orleans Steamboat Company, offering short cruises on the Mississippi primarily from New Orleans. Currently she undertakes scheduled harbour cruises at 11:30 am (Friday to Monday) and 2:30 pm (Daily) with a 7:00 pm Jazz and dinner cruise (Friday-Monday) but is otherwise available for charter. A range of "Special Event" cruises are offered on selected national holiday days.	Click
Belle of Louisville	1914	Louisville, KY	Built in 1914 by J Rees & Sons in Pittsburgh, PA for the West Memphis Steam Packet Company for whom she sailed as "Idlewild". She linked Memphis and West Memphis, across the Mississippi River, primarily as a passenger ferry but she also carried light cargo. In 1927 after a rapid decline of traffic due to a shift to road transport she was sold to Mr C. Maestri from New Orleans who quickly re-sold her to the Greater New Orleans Amusement Company. A further change of ownership early in 1928 saw her sailing as a freighter for the New St Louis & Calhoun Packet Company specialising in the transport of apples! Out of season she offered passenger sailings throughout much of the Mississippi River system. From 1931 she was based on the Ohio River at Louisville (KY) mainly as a passenger ferry. In fact she had a very varied life during World War II - as a tow boat and as a night club for the military! After the war she became owned by Mr JH Gorsage from Peoria (IL) who renamed her "Avalon". Soon afterwards, however, she was sold once more - to the Steamer Avalon Inc who used her as a passenger "tramp" steamer on the Mississippi and its tributaries. This business came to an unfortunate end after the 1961 season when the company could no longer afford her annual overhaul (not helped by having had to pay out a significant sum to settle legal claims from passengers after she had hit the Emsworth Lock gates on the Ohio River in 1958). She was bought at auction by Jefferson County in which Louisville is situated and the boat was renovated partly with the help of volunteer workers and public donations, re-emerging under her current name, "Belle of Louisville". She has received continuous maintenance since then despite a setback in 1997 when she sank at her moorings in an act of sabotage by a disgruntled ex-employee. She was back in service in 1998. In 1989 she was declared a National Historic Landmark.	Click	National Parks Service
Julia Belle Swain	1971	Lacrosse, WI	Built in 1971 by the Dubuque Boat and Boiler Works at Dubuque, Iowa Engine second hand ex - City of Baton Rouge (1915 by Gillett and Eaton, Lake City, Minnesota) Owned by the Great River Steamboat Company and based at Lacrosse, Wisconsin.	Click

Minnehaha		Lake George, NY
Chautauqua Belle		Chautauqua Lake, NY		Click
Shawnee Princess		Grand Rapids, OH
Suwanee	1928	Dearborn, MI	65 ft long. At Henry Ford Museum
Portland	1947	Portland, OR	Former Portland harbour tug, built 1947 and operational until 1981. Restored at the Oregon Maritime Museum and is available for passenger service.
Liberty Belle		Lake Buena Vista, FL	At Walt Disney World
Mark Twain		Anaheim, CA	At Disneyland
Alaska Queen	1984	Ketchikan, AL	A modern ship but incorporating an engine originally dating from 1884, this 161 ft long paddler entered service in 2007 for Alaska Travel Adventures, a large local tour operator, after having been purchased from capital City Cruises of Sacramento, California, where she sailed on the Sacramento River as "Elizabeth Louise". Before her arrival at Alaska she received an extensive overhaul from the Foss Maritime Company on the Lake Washington Ship Canal near Seattle The ship offeres several trips of around 2 hours duration around the historic port and coastline of Ketchikan from May to September.	Click
Graceful Ghost		Lake Caddo, TX	Small modern replica wood-burning stern-wheeler offering 1 1/2 hour trips. Trips start from Shady Glade marina, near the city of Uncertain, TX from end March to November, but she can be chartered during the winter.	Click

LONGER CRUISES / OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION

Vessels of Majestic America Line, Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen and American Queen are out of service following the winding up of their operators at the end of the 2008 season. The assets of Majestic America line remain up for sale. (Note : The demise of majestic America also brought to an end the operations of the American West Steamboat Co which operated two motor sternwheelers on the Pacific North-West of the USA - see further down).

VESSEL	BUILT	LOCATION	NOTES	WEBSITE	OTHER INTERNET SITES
Delta Queen	1926		Dimensions : 280 ft x 60 ft. Accommodation : 88 state rooms, 5 public rooms. Accommodated passenger capacity : 174. Crew 60. Built in 1926 but facing her final season in 2008 (ending on 31/10/08) after the failure of the vessel to be granted her usual exemption from certain safety legislation by the US Coastguard Service. The new "SOLAS" regulations applicable from 2010 relate to fire safety in sea-going vessels providing overnight accommodation and require amongst other things the removal of inflammable material from the vessel. Wooden-bodied and with large amounts of decorative wood embellishments, Delta Queen could not be made compliant. A massive campaign was instituted to lobby the US Congress on this issue on the basis that Delta Queen had been granted exemptions from earlier SOLAS regulations, had an exemplary past record and most importantly, was never more than a short distance from a riverbank at any time . The hull and engines of Delta Queen were built in Scotland by Wm Denny of Dumbarton and reassembled at Stockton, California, where the wooden superstructure was added. Delta Queen and sister Delta King sailed between Sacramento and San Francisco. Both were sold by the U.S. Navy in December 1946 after wartime service. The Queen was bought by the Greene family and towed to the Mississippi via the Panama Canal in a 27-day voyage. Based in Cincinnati, the Green Line became the Delta Queen Steamhip Company and over the years has had many owners. Joined by two new and larger steamers, Mississippi Queen in 1976 and American Queen in 1995, the business almost folded in 2001 until bought at auction by Delaware North Companies Ltd. The vessels, now being based in New Orleans were badly affected by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 and ownership passed to Ambassadors International who formed a new company Majestic America Line who were, from December 2006, titular owners. Delta Queen was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989. IT HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED THAT, FOR 2009, DELTA QUEEN HAS BEEN LEASED TO BUSINESSMAN HARRY PHILLIPS AND WILL BE OPENED AS A HOTEL AT COOLIDDGE PARK LANDING AT CHATTANOOGA ALTHOUGH A LONG TERM BUYER IS STILL SOUGHT BY AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL, PARENT COMPANY OF THE NOW DEFUNCT MAJESTIC AMERICA LINE. THE CAMPAIGN TO HAVE HER EXEMPTED FROM SOLAS 2010 RULES CONTINUES.	Click	National Parks Service
Mississippi Queen	1975		Dimensions : 382 ft x 68 ft Accommodation : 208 staterooms. Accommocated passenger capacity : 422. Built 1973-75 by Jeffboat Inc, Jefferson, Indiana. Launched on 30th November 1974. Entered service on 20th July 1976 Laid up in 2006 pending refurbishment - but project failed to progress JAN 2009 : IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDER WAY TO PURCHASE HER FOR USE AS A FLOATING HOTEL AT MADISON, INDIANA
American Queen	1995		Dimensions : 418 ft x 89 ft Accommodation : 222 staterooms, 10 public rooms. Accommocated passenger capacity : 436. Crew : 160 Power : Steam and auxiliary diesel Built in 1994-5. by McDermott Shipyard Power : Steam engines second hand ex-steam dredge "Kennedy" Has two auxiliary propellors for additional power / maneovrability American Queen has been out of service since the immediate aftermath of hurricane Katrina (August 2005) ON THE DEMISE OF MAJESTIC AMERICA LINES, SHE WAS GIVEN OVER TO THE MARINA ADMINISTRATION (MARAD) TO WHOM SHE WAS UNDER MORTGAGE AND IS LAID UP AWAITING HER FURURE AT VIOLET, LOUISIANA (or BEAUMONT, TX DEPENDING ON REPORTS)

Static Preservation - Surviving historical paddle steamers in commercial or museum use - open to public

Sternwheelers : Excursions ships, Towboats and Snagboats

VESSEL	BUILT	LOCATION	NOTES	WEBSITE	OTHER INTERNET SITES
Nenana	1933	Fairbanks, AK	Passenger/freighter (1933-58) now a National Historical Landmark at the Pioneer Park at Fairbanks, Alaska, one of her original regular ports of call	Click	National Parks Service
WT Preston	1939	Anarcortes, WA	ex-snagboat, (ie river debris remover) preserved out of the water at Anacortes City Museum	Click	Wikipedia
Geo M. Verity	1927	Keokuk, Iowa	Former towboat built at Dubuque (Iowa) length 130 ft. Now a dry-land exhibit at the Keokuk River Museum
Montgomery	1926	Pickensville, AL	178 ft long, built at Charleston, South Carolina, primarily as a snagboat. Now a floating museum exhibit
W P Snyder	1918	Columbus, OH	Built by James Rees & Sons at Pittsburgh, this 152 ft long towboat is a museum ship at the Ohio River Museum

Sternwheelers : (ex- cruise ships with overnight accommodation):

VESSEL	BUILT	LOCATION	NOTES	WEBSITE	OTHER INTERNET SITES
Delta King	1927	Sacramento, CA	Former San Francisco-Sacramento stern wheeler, moored in Sacramento, California	Click

Static Preservation - Surviving historical paddle steamers in commercial or museum use - Not in public use

VESSEL	BUILT	LOCATION	NOTES	WEBSITE	OTHER INTERNET SITES
Becky Thatcher	1927	Marietta, OH	Former passenger steamboat. Built by Howard Shipyard, Jeffersonville, Indiana. Length 213 ft. Engine removed. Oerated as a restaurant and showboat until 2006 after which she has remained closed.

More details : See Steamboats.org website for fuller list

OTHER RELEVANT INTERNET SITES

Museum of paddle steamer interest

Arabia : Missouri River sidewheeler snagged and sunk in 1856, now excavated from a field, with some ship's fabric but a lot of cargo and personal possessions recovered and at Kansas City

Public Preservation Programs (National Parks Service : Maritime Heritage Program) Website

National Parks Service : Maritime Heritage Program : list of large vessels designated for preservation
National Parks Service : Paddle Steamers
Vessel Pages - Delta Queen - President - Belle of Louisville - Nenana :
Ticonderoga, St Claire, Columbia and Milwaukee Clipper are also designated vessels

Private Preservation Campaigns

Delta Queen : Threatened with withdrawal in 2008 unless US Congress renews sppecial sailing exemption for this wooden-bodied paddle steamer which otherwise does not meet legal safety requirements

Private Sites of Paddle Steamer Interest

Steamboats.org - Franz Neumeier and Carmen Winkler's site - the most comprehensive guide to US paddlers on the net. Developers of the Save the Delta Queen site

www.steamboats.com including links page to all the "steamers" in the 50 US States
Dave Dawley - Information and links to a massive store of data and photos of paddlers in the USA
Allen Dale's Steamboat Pages :Allen Dale's comprehensive data and photographs of current US steamboating situation, including enthusiasts' community
Steamboats & Sternwhelers - by Jonathan Tschiggfrie - particularly interesting are the photos of US steamboats as they are now
TwainTimes : Kurt Spitzner's site concentrating on the story of Mark Twain, but featuring interesting descriptions of steamboat technology of the time
Sternwheeling : Website of the Wheeling Heritage Port (West Virginia) which holds an annual Sternwheeler festival
Video Clips of and aboard Delta Queen, Belle of Louisville and Natchez in 2006 : presented by Austrian enthusiast Ernst Galutschek.
Maritime Matters website includes two fascinating illustrated "blogs" of cruises on the Delta Queen by maritime historians Peter Knego and Shawn Dake

Historic Sternwheeler Preservation Society Inc - Preservation and research. owns the sternwheel tug Barbara H.
- As well as Barbara H, the site has links to the working diesel sternwheel tug "Sewickley" and the "P A Denny" a similar vessel but now a passenger excursion boat at Charleston, W Virginia.
- Also pages about other tugs under restoration (Virginia and Louise) and those surviving in derelict condition ( Maimie S Barrett, Wake Robin, Fayetteville, Mereada, Brooklyn, Ohio)

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