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Steamboat Museum
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Steamboats of the Fifty States
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Steamboat News Blog
May 5, 2012
Recent Updates to Steamboats.com
New acquisitions in the Dave Thomson Wing of the online steamboat museum. To see the latest, click here.
Ben Sandmel has a new book out: Ernie K-Doe: The R&B Emperor or New Orleans, click here to go to the book's website or click here to see the book at Amazon.com.
New model boat photos from John Fryant, click here.
The latest on the Mississippi Queen mermaids from George Burch - click here for the mermaid page.
New photos of the American Queen by John Weise - click here. The American Queen is docked in Cincinnati as we speak. First time long time.
May 3, 2012
Belle of Louisville Wins Steamboat Race
Yesterday was the annual steamboat race to coincide with the Kentucky Derby. Competing were the Belle of Louisville, the Belle of Cincinnati, and the American Queen. Congratulations to the Belle of Louisville and all the boats.
Bitter, party of one back here in Arizona, on this desolate patch of desert with not a steamboat in site. Consider yourself blessed to have a steamboat race. Meanwhile, I will drown my sorrows over the Delta Queen being unable to participate again this year. I am wallowing in my own self-pity, so don't take offesne. But common Lord, please let the steamboat travel on the rivers. She is still alive.
April 27, 2012
God Bless the Queen on Re-christening Day
We
the Steamboat American Queen. Long live the Queen! God bless American Queen godmother Priscilla Presley, thank
you for re-christening the boat.
April 21, 2012
Queens Update
American Queen News the first voyage is underway now, marking a return to the river of one our the Queen sisters. We send our best wishes. The Great American Steamboat Company, based in Memphis, has formed an alliance with the Elvis Presley family, and Priscilla Presley will re-christen the American Queen on April 27.
Delta Queen News the desperate situation continues, with the steamboat community uniting behind Chattanooga as the preferred situation for the Delta Queen. You can help, see article below. Steamboats.com implores Mr. Wayne Heller to reconsider and have mercy on the Delta Queen. If he wants to help the boat, he could make a donation toward her deferred maintenance. The boat is too young to die. Plus, it is difficult to believe that the Coast Guard would allow her to be towed out on the open seas in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. Our thoughts and prayers—and letters—go out to save her.
Mississippi Queen News the bell from the Mississippi Queen will be donated to the Howard Steamboat Museum in Jeffersonville, Indiana. It is currently on the American Queen, but they will deliver it to the museum when the boat arrives for the Great Steamboat Race, on May 2. We would like to thank Keith Norrington for his part in making this possible, and for spreading the good news.
The Mermaids from the bow of the Mississippi Queen were also salvaged and will sit on a cliff overlooking the Ohio River once they are refurbished. The new proud owner, George Burch, said:
MQ spirit lives on, the pilothouse sign in its temporary position at MM 600.5 on the Ohio.
The mermaids as I found them in Pierre Part LA. They are being restored locally and should be ready for display this summer.
Also, they will be displayed (temporary) for the Great Steamboat Race on April 25, Belle of Louisville Vs American Queen. If you happen to be on one of the boats try to get the Capt to give us a whistle or two in memory of the MQ.
Read more about the mermaids at this site - click here.
On Mar 18, 2012, at 10:05 PM, Robin wrote:
Hi,
I came upon your site while in search of Ray Monson. I have a piece either pen and pencil or watercolor of the Delta Queen riverboat. After perusing your site I did not find anything I could use to help me identify this piece. All I know is that it is 25-35 years old and signed and numbered under the matting 32/200 "Delta Queen" Ray Monson in pencil. I have attached a photo of the picture for you to examine and maybe you might be able to give me some insight on this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Robin Doyle (email)
