Mark Twain named wheeled steamships, floating down the mighty Mississippi River as "floating wedding cakes." At the end of the 20th century, a ship appeared that became the largest wheeled steamship in the history of shipbuilding. Although it is carefully hidden, but vessel literally packed with surprises river cruise. This modern steamship, whose roots are hidden in the past. 150 years after dawn steamships on the Mississippi River, " American Queen"gives its passengers a unique vision of the world.
River steamer was built in 1995 at the shipyard " Mc Dermott» Louisiana and cost the owners $65 million. When launching onto the water, it was not a traditional bottle of champagne that was broken on the beautiful ship, but a large bottle of Tabasco sauce, the pride of the state. Cruise river boat entered into the Guinness Book of Records - as the largest paddle steamer in the world.
Several designers worked on its construction and were inspired by steamships early buildings: " Mayflower», « J.M. White», « Republica», « Southland" and some of their details were implemented on " American Queen" Designed by " Rodni and Co» famous for its floating casinos.
On river boat installed real steam engine. It was removed from the old one steamship and equipped with modifications. This design now allows the power to be doubled by using steam from the boiler and dual action of two pistons on one wheel shaft. The steam enters two low pressure cylinders, then cools and returns to the boiler. The paddle wheel is made of wood. If it hits a rock or a jar, it will break and this part can be replaced, but if this were not the case, the accident would lead to a malfunction of the entire mechanism, which is quite expensive, and maybe even to an explosion of the steam boiler.
Although technology steam engine« American Queen"Almost two centuries old, the auxiliary mechanisms on it are from the 21st century. Except for the paddle wheel under the bottom vessel There are three steering propulsors with four-blade propellers. They can rotate around their axis. This makes the vessel very maneuverable, which is very important when moving through the narrowness of the river. They provide 60 percent of the ship's power. Naturally, if the river steamship« American Queen If he tried to move himself with one paddle wheel, he would have remained at the pier forever as a floating hotel.
river cruise ship "American Queen"
photo and interior
American Queen paddle wheel
deck diagram of the river steamer "American Queen"
on the deck of the river cruise ship "American Queen"
interior of the river steamer American Queen
by river boat« American Queen» pipes are stacked and the navigation bridge is lowered
In the old days fire was a constant threat steamships, That's why river boat« American Queen» differs from others in its fireproof steel hull and steel partitions on six decks. Each of them has its own name: the first is main, the second is salon, the third is “Texas”, the fourth is observation, the fifth is promenade and the sixth is sunny.
Shallow draft big ship allows you to walk along the river without problems. The main salon is distinguished by special architectural delights. The dining rooms are arranged according to historical designs. In addition, there is a two-tier theater and a library on board named after the great writer Mark Twain. All cabins are designed in Victorian style: carpets, wallpaper and furniture are all decorated with the luxury of the period. All aboard steamship designed to make passengers feel like guests of one of the Victorian era houses. The menu is varied enough to suit the tastes of any passenger.
American travel company Green Line» founded in 1890, owns several cruise ships, but the most popular remain " American Queen», « Delta Queen" recently renamed to " Majestic America" And " Mississippi Queen».
other river cruise ships of the company
three queens
riverboats "Delta Queen" and "Majestic America"
riverboat "Mississippi Queen"
River cruise Mississippi is not like other journeys. Losing control in the treacherous currents of this river with by steamship trouble might happen. But on board cruise ship« American Queen» Passengers are left in the dark as to which wayward river they are traveling on.
Navigation bridge of the American Queen
The Mississippi is a vast water system that was formed 2000 BC. e. after the Ice Age. It supplies water to 42 percent of the United States. It originates at Lake Itasca, Minnesota and flows south to the Gulf of Mexico. Various and vital cargoes are transported along the river. It is a gift from heaven to have such a river in the United States. Therefore, navigation on an unpredictable river requires a lot of knowledge, which is passed on from generation to generation. Sailors use navigation maps that have been created over the years; traveling here is dangerous without experienced navigators. River steamer« American Queen» visits about six major ports on the river.
There are bridges on the Mississippi that cross largest river boat will not work, but forward-thinking engineers have solved this problem. Two pipes, which are more of a decorative nature, are folded, and the wheelhouse is lowered down. Everything is done using hydraulic mechanisms. Control in this position is carried out on a remote auxiliary platform with all the necessary controls.
To visit amazing ships, tourists come from different countries: Canada, Germany, Japan, France, etc. The popularity of such steamships led to the fact that company managers are thinking about development cruise industry on the river. The following ships will not be as high - this is due to the river conditions. People who attended this river cruise ship, saw with their own eyes life on one of the largest rivers in the world, just like their predecessors who swam on wheeled steamships a hundred years ago.
Technical data of the river steamer "American Queen":
Length - 125 m
Width - 27 m
Draft - 2.6 m;
Displacement - 4000 tons;
Marine propulsion system- steam engine, power 750 hp. s., three steering thrusters of the “Azipod” type with a total power of 1000 hp. With.;
Speed against the current - 5 knots;
Number of passengers - 430 people;
Crew and maintenance personnel - 186 people;
Mississippi River Cruise
An exciting journey along the Mississippi will bring a lot of unforgettable impressions to even the most experienced travelers!
Cruise route:
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New Orleans |
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Oak Alley |
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Baton Rouge |
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St. Francisville |
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Vicksburg |
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Mississippi cruise program:
Day 1. New Orleans
The city of Great Freedom, where you can feel an incredible atmosphere of carelessness and ease of perception of the world around you. The French Quarter is the oldest in the city; the spirit of French antiquity reigns here. The famous Bourbon Street is a real gem of the French Quarter, where you can enjoy good music, works of art and a variety of Louisiana cuisine. In the heart of New Orleans' French Quarter lies the famous Jackson Square, designed by architects inspired by the Place des Vosges in Paris. Various “witchcraft objects” are considered a characteristic local element, such as a cult place and the grave of the Voodoo queen, Mary Laveau, in the Saint-Louis cemetery. In essence, Marie Laveau is the spirit of New Orleans. It was here that the most powerful interpenetration of African and European cultures took place.
Welcome cocktail from the captain and introduction to the crew. Dinner.
Day 2. Oak Alley
Oak Alley Plantation is located on the banks of the Mississippi River, between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Oak Alleys are often called "The Grand Dame of the Great River Road." A quarter mile of overhanging giant oak trees with a 300-year history grow together with their gnarled crowns and branches to form a stunning living arch. The resulting sensations will make you return to the film “Gone with the Wind.” Learn about the history of the Great House and taste a mint julep (a drink made from cognac or whiskey with water, sugar, ice and mint), a traditional drink in the region.
Day 3. Baton Rouge
Arrival in Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana. Experience the rich Southern lifestyle, including Mardi Gras and the Creole and Cajun lifestyle.
Day 4. St. Francisville
Arrival in the town of Saint Francisville, which is located in the Mississippi River Delta. The main street, Royal Street, is reminiscent of the French colonial era, with its ancient markets, unique handmade shops and, of course, music records. Visit to the old covered market and shopping street where art and precious items are displayed.
Day 5. Nanchez
Natchez is a city of Pilgrimage, where there is no bustle or rush. Natchez was very popular among wealthy people in the antebellum era. Their mansions remain to this day, such as the magnificent and luxurious Stanton Hall, the least damaged during the Civil War. Melrose Plantation, a brick mansion on the river, former headquarters of US troops during the Civil War - Rosalie Manson, home of William Johnson. Visit Eola Hotel for shopping.
Day 6. Vicksburg
Vicksburg is a city that uniquely combines local culture, character, arts, adventure and Southern hospitality. Tour the significant antebellum Anchuka Mansion, which means "happy home" in the Choctaw Indian language. The well-known Coca-Cola was bottled in Vicksburg, at which time the process of its production began. Now there is a museum here. Departure to the Battlefields Museum, dedicated to a major military operation of the American Civil War.
Day 7. On board
Day 8. Memphis.
Memphis was founded on May 22, 1819 and is considered a very young city. W. K. Handy sang one of the streets of the city called Beale Street in one of his songs, so many music lovers consider Memphis the birthplace of the blues. The Lorraine Hotel is one of the most amazing places: M. L. King was assassinated in one of its rooms. Today, an interesting museum is open here, which is entirely dedicated to the famous fighter for the rights of all African Americans. Other popular city attractions include the Brooks Art Gallery, Confederate Park, Chucalissa Indian Village Museum, the Museum of Natural History and Industry, the Victorian Quarter, and the Memphis City Museum.
The Indians call the Mississippi the “Big River,” and traveling along it can transport a person back in time: a real paddle steamer, which Mark Twain called “The Wedding Cake,” allows you to see America one hundred and fifty years ago. On board this one, completely unconsciously, the eyes of Thomas Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn begin to look out. And the landscapes off the coast, where they have not been touched by civilization, greatly contribute to such expectations.
Prices for cruises on this river are quite reasonable. For example, a short trip lasting two days will cost about $400. A 7-day round trip on the American Queen costs $1,700 per person based on double occupancy or $2,500 per person based on single occupancy. Its route is not very busy, but impressive: New Orleans - Oak Alley - St. Francisville - Natchez - Vicksburg - New Orleans.
Of course, it's not just the American Queen that cruises Mississippi. There are other equally beautiful ships. “The Queen of the Mississippi,” an eight-day journey along the route: Memphis – Helena – Vicksburg – Natchez – St. Francisville - Baton Rouge - Oak Alley - New Orleans will cost between $4,000 and $4,700 per person.
There is also the “Grande Caribe”, for 8 days on which you will pay about $2,400, route: Nashville – Clarksville – Kuttawa – Memphis. The price for a tour on the Memphis - Greenville - Vicksburg - Baton Rouge - New Orleans line, for 12 days on the same ship, is $3,700. If you were expecting insanely cheap prices, then you were clearly not pleased with the prices. However, there are options here too. the fact is that recently cruise companies in this region have become concerned
increasing demand, which means that various discounts and special offers on cruises appear quite often.
Mississippi Cruise capable of creating a triple surprise. The first is the river. Full-fledged transport communications of the country, a true gift of Providence. It is 4000 years old, it was formed during the Ice Age and is the main supplier of fresh water in the country.
The second unforgettable experience is a journey that can better be called a close acquaintance with America. You will be able to visit the capital of jazz, New Orleans. The main river ports are Vicksburg, Greenville and Natchez. And, of course, you will visit Memphis, the capital of the blues. It is not by chance that it is named after the Egyptian city. The namesake is located on the Nile, and the Mississippi is to the Americans what the Great River is to the Egyptians.
The seven-day cruise includes visits to the plantations where Uncle Tom was oppressed and trips to the sites of famous Civil War battles. The meeting with the amazing culture of the Creoles will be crowned with a delicious lunch, the dishes of which are not served in any restaurant in the world. The cruise organizers carefully keep all the surprises prepared for their travelers and subsequently ask to keep them secret, but the impressions are stronger than the promises.
The third surprise of this cruise - only if you choose the American Queen - is the steamer. It is capable of changing the vision of the world around it for its passengers. Today it is the largest wheeled ship, for which it is respectfully included in the Guinness Book of Records. Its construction cost 65 million dollars, and when it was launched from the shipyard into the water, it was not champagne that was broken on the side. It's hard to believe - a huge bottle of Tabasco ketchup, which is the pride of the state.
The cruise ship seems to have sailed out of the 19th century. The two-tiered saloon, the huge red wheel and the captain's bridge under two huge black pipes are striking. They are impressive in size, but are decorative in nature. You have to believe this when approaching the first low bridge hanging over the river. Black giants obediently fold up, like a piece of a children's construction set.
The comfort on board awaiting participants of the vacation called a Mississippi cruise exceeds the wildest expectations. The cabins resemble a boutique hotel with their unobtrusive luxury, expensive furniture and high-tech equipment. And the individual arched veranda becomes a meeting place for the sunrise and seeing off the sunset. Then I often dream about them, reminding me of the amazing experience of the Big River cruise.
Along with this material you usually read:
Cruising the Thames on a chartered yacht is an amazing experience at very reasonable prices. The best time to go on a river trip is a short vacation. You will only need one free week, but it will be very busy.
You can get acquainted with the cities and historical sites in the United States not only during a river trip along the Mississippi. At your service are also magnificent cruise ships plying the waters along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
November 30 is the birthday of Mark Twain, a classic of American literature and writer.
and journalist. Samuel Langhorne Clemens (real name of Mark Twain) was born on November 30
1835 in Missouri, in a small village called Florida. Aged
At the age of four, he moved with his parents to the neighboring port city of Hannibal.
Samuel Clemens spent his childhood in this city, where he graduated from school and worked
pilot on the Mississippi River, and later created his world-famous works.
Since 1863, the resident took the creative pseudonym Mark Twain, which is in the language of sailors
meant “to measure a depth of two (fathoms),” safe for swimming.
Mississippi gave Mark Twain many colorful characters and entertaining stories.
He later said that while sailing as a pilot, he “studied every imaginable type of human
natures, which are only possible to meet in fiction, biography and
historical literature."
Hannibal inspired the writer to create the fictional town in The Adventures of Tom
Sawyer" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn".
As a child, I had a book that contained both stories, I re-read
it many times and I couldn’t even imagine that I would see it with my own eyes
places described in your favorite book.
The city of Hannibal lies on the hills. This wooden lighthouse is located on the top
one of them is named after Mark Twain.
I climbed the steps to its foot to admire the city from above
bird's eye view.
There, at the top, I saw blooming cacti for the first time.
Missouri is south and in October it is summer-like warm.
In the center of the city rises the large Cardiff Hill, on which
monument to the literary heroes of Mark Twain: Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Two boys,
one of whom in torn pants, goes in search of the next adventure.
On the day we arrived in Hannibal, we took a trip on a tourist boat,
made in the style of those that plied the river in the time of Mark Twain.
There was only one excursion on the cruise schedule that day. Tourist season
ended and there were few people willing to take a walk along the Mississippi.
Music was playing on the pier, like in those ancient times when ladies in long dresses
and feathered hats walked hand in hand with gentlemen in tailcoats and bowler hats
embankment, waiting for the moment when it will be possible to climb the bridge to the deck
steamship.
Tickets were sold in a small building on the pier where the store was located
souvenirs.
"Mark Twain, Port Hannibal. Welcome aboard!" was written at the entrance.
I wanted to take away a book from here, the same one I had in childhood: two
the story is in one binding, but the store didn’t have one like that.
Maybe this is for the better; I doubt I would re-read it.
An interesting inscription on a children's T-shirt: - Future captain of "Mark Twain". Do not miss
walk!
The steamer's ladder was fixed to the forecastle - this is a traditional American design,
the Missouri state flag fluttered on the flagpole.
We boarded the Mark Twain and the ship, sounding its farewell whistle, set sail
from the pier.
There was a restaurant downstairs that could be rented for weddings.
and other celebrations.
There were a lot of empty seats on the upper deck. I went up the steps
and saw...Mark Twain.
One of the passengers with a mustache and gray hair looked surprisingly like the writer.
If I didn't know for sure that Mark Twain had no direct descendants, I would
I thought it was his close relative.
The Mississippi River experiences unusually high levels at times during navigation season
water, as a result of which the bridge in the city of Hannibal becomes an insurmountable obstacle
for cruise ships.
This walk reminded me, with the only difference that
The banks of the Mississippi in the Hannibal area are not as picturesque as in Wisconsin.
The city has the Mark Twain Museum, located in the house where the writer grew up. In 2012
year it celebrated its centenary and received visitors from all fifty states
and about sixty countries around the world.
And finally, a photo from the “I Was Here” series.
Now I see all the shortcomings of the video taken during a walk along the Mississippi,
but, unfortunately, I can no longer correct them.
August 11th, 2013 , 05:37 pm
A river cruise is a great way to see the country from the inside. And this fully applies not only to Russia, but also to America.
The map shows the main cruise lines of the United States - part of the Mississippi River system. Cruises operate on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland and Missouri rivers, and cover fourteen US states.
Of course, it is impossible to visit all these waterways on one cruise: it would take about two months. Typically, cruises take a week or a little more, and take place along one of the sections of the “cruise system”. The most popular cruise in late fall, winter and early spring is on the lower Mississippi between Memphis and New Orleans. And in the summer season, the most popular route is along the upper Mississippi between St. Louis and St. Paul.
This summer, the Mississippi is experiencing unusually high water levels, causing a bridge in Mark Twain's hometown of Hannibal to become an insurmountable obstacle for a cruise ship. Therefore, the itinerary of some cruises has been changed. In my case, the new route was this: from Cincinnati to St. Louis along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Well, it happens. The route with stops is shown on the map.
Cincinnati (Ohio), a fairly large city on the Ohio River. Heat.
The history of Cincinnati is inextricably linked with the history of inland navigation in the United States. The first steamship arrived here in 1811. Now, next to this place, there is a monument in the form of a paddle wheel of a rear-wheel steamer - a copy of the wheel of the American Queen steamer, on which we will go on a cruise.
Probably, many have heard that there are dozens of historical steamships preserved on the Mississippi and its tributaries, which are still in operation. This is a beautiful misconception: there are almost no historical courts left in operation in the United States. There is only the pleasure steamer Belle of Louisville, which will turn one hundred years old next year. There is also a 1924 Delta Queen that is used as a hotel and is ready to return to service as a cruise ship. And it's all. Most of the old ships have long been dismantled, and new ones have been built in their place - the same classic look and with a rear-wheel design. Some veterans, however, are lucky enough to survive as floating museums, restaurants and even theaters.
And I will return to the two mentioned historical ships later in the course of my story.
The local steamboat Belle of Cincinnati makes pleasure trips throughout Ohio. It has a classic exterior, but was built in 1988.
The American Queen is moored on the right bank of the Ohio River. There are no cruise ship berths on US rivers; they come straight to the shore.
On this ship we will take a week-long cruise to St. Louis. American Queen Interiors: I recently posted photos and commented on them.
We set off around 6pm and turn around to head down the Ohio. The ladder is attached to the forecastle - this is a traditional American design, with the only difference from tradition: on the American Queen there are two ladders instead of one.
The imagination pictures dozens of cruise ships sailing up and down the Mississippi and its tributaries, stopping in the towns of “one-story America.” The reality is that there are only two cruise ships operating on the Mississippi, plus there are periodic visits to the Mississippi by expeditionary cruise ships of mixed navigation. Moreover, over the past decade there were years when cruise ships did not sail on US rivers at all. Unfortunately, river cruises in America are unfairly underrated.
American Queen is, one might say, a floating palace, the hallmark of Mississippi. A ship that has gone through three owners due to its less-than-ideal economics. Now the ship is operated by the Great American Steamboat Company, created specifically to organize cruises on this ship.
The second vessel operating on the Mississippi, Queen of the Mississippi, was recently built and was not designed to impress. Small size, small selection of public spaces, many cabins with balconies, and, of course, the traditional rear-wheel layout. But, it’s true, there is not that external grace inherent in palace ships.
In the dead of night we moor to the shore about five kilometers above Louisville (Kentucky). In Louisville itself that day there was a rock festival, the stage was right on the river bank, and the captain decided that it would be too noisy for elderly tourists if the ship stopped in the center of the city.
Now I will talk about organizing excursions for American Queen tourists. Usually I am reluctant to write about how and what is organized on board; I am more interested in the ship itself and the route. But here it is a completely different matter.
During the entire voyage, the ship is accompanied by several buses, which take tourists on excursions at the parking lots. As in Russia, there are basic excursions, included in the price of the cruise, and additional excursions for an additional fee (usually one, maximum two excursions per stay).
So: buses serving the main excursion run at intervals of ten minutes along a specific route, stopping at various attractions. Each bus has a guide who provides information along the route. The excursion participant can get off at any place, spend as much time there as he wants (within the limits of the ship’s parking), and board another bus to continue the route. Visiting most museums is free.
That is, this is the classic hop on - hop off scheme, popular in many countries around the world. But I have never seen anywhere where this system is used as part of the service for cruise tourists. It justifies itself: each person is completely free to plan what to visit during the excursion and how much time to spend at a particular interesting site. Moreover, the person plans the duration of the excursion himself. Theoretically, such a system can be tried on river cruises in Russia. For some reason, in my mind I always try on this system for Kostroma.
Buses in the branded steamship livery look stunning.
On the way to Louisville, we pass a former railroad bridge, which, after the dismantling of the railroad tracks, was left as a monument to itself, converted into a pedestrian bridge.
Louisville is not “one-story America” yet. It's a typical mid-sized American city.
City Hall:
And this is a monument to firefighters who died in the line of duty:
For me, the main attraction of Louisville is the Belle of Louisville. I mentioned it above: it is the world's oldest operating steamship, and the only historic riverboat remaining in service in the United States. Built in 1914 in Pittsburgh as Idlewild, the ship first operated as a passenger ferry in Memphis before changing port to Louisville in 1931. After being sold in 1947, the steamship changed its name to Avalon and operated in various cities in Mississippi and Ohio for the next fifteen years. When it was decided to decommission the old steamship in 1962, a person was found who purchased it at auction, and after repairing the mechanisms and restoring the interior, the ship, now under the name Belle of Louisville, became a pleasure boat in Louisville.
It is interesting that the steam engine and the paddle wheel of the steamship were made much earlier than the steamship was built. They were used on another ship built at the end of the 19th century, and in 1914 they were transferred to the Idlewild under construction.
Belle of Louisville sometimes leaves Louisville to participate in various events in other cities, where she always becomes an honored and welcome guest. Steamboat annually competes in the Great Steamboat Race, part of the famous Kentucky Derby, and often wins it. The main rival of the Belle of Louisville for many years in a row was the legendary steamship Delta Queen, which I will discuss below. Now, instead of the retired Delta Queen, the American Queen is participating in the race.
Before the day's outing begins, the Belle of Louisville fills the area with the sound of a unique musical whistle. Many people come from other cities to take a ride on the historic ship by booking a ticket online.
For me, participation in the walk means the risk of being late for the departure of the American Queen, but the thought of abandoning the trip on the historical steamer did not even arise because of this.
At the entrance, the ticket office where tickets used to be sold has been preserved. Now tickets are sold in a small building on the pier, and mainly on the Internet, but the ship's ticket office has been preserved for history.
The main gangway leads from the working deck to the ship's passenger quarters.
A significant part of the middle deck is reserved for the dining room (you can buy a ticket with or without lunch).
At the bow of the same deck there is a souvenir kiosk and bar. In this part of the ship, the ceiling decoration attracts attention. It is almost a hundred years old: it has been preserved since the ship was built.
On the upper deck there is seating under a canopy; Seats on the middle and upper decks are also located on open promenade terraces.
The small interior spaces on the middle deck are partly for service purposes and partly for events.
During the two-hour walk, Belle of Louisville reached the American Queen parking lot, after which it returned to the central city embankment.
The steamers greeted each other with whistles.
This was not the only meeting of passenger ships of the day. Just before the departure of the American Queen, the second cruise ship of the Mississippi River system, the Queen of the Mississippi, passed us first down and then up. I believe he was waiting for us to make room near the shore. By the way, he also had to change his route due to high water in Hannibal.
It seems to have everything with it - balconies, and the rear wheel, but how different they are from the American Queen. I have no doubt that Queen of the Mississippi is much more successful commercially, but in terms of external beauty... However, this is a subjective view.
We slowly set off towards Louisville and the McAlpine lock, already the second on our route. But we passed the first lock at night.
In the approach channel (built to bypass local rapids that once impeded navigation) we passed a pusher carrying twelve barges loaded with coal. Such a number of barges on US rivers is not the exception, but rather the rule.
We go into the gateway...
... and, having dropped a little, we leave it.
All the locks I have seen on Ohio are two-chamber, and I have never seen any queues for locking. But the intensity of the fleet’s movement cannot be compared with the same Volga: the fleet is small, and mostly these are rare pushers with numerous barges.
Along the route of the ship, such industrial landscapes are sometimes encountered.
Cruise ships on the Mississippi continue to operate at night. In this they are similar to Russian cruise ships, and in this they differ from the river cruise ships of most other countries. But that night we made a stop right at the wild coast. It's time to talk about steamboat racing.
I have already mentioned the traditional steamboat races in which the Belle of Louisville takes part. In the 19th century, racing did not have a traditional entertainment value, but was an element of fierce competition between different vessels. After all, at that time the steamboat was the only way to reach many places in America, and speed played a big role.
One of the most striking events in the life of Mississippi was the race of two passenger steamships Robert E. Lee and Natchez. These were first-class ships for those times - both in terms of technical equipment, and in terms of amenities for passengers, and, of course, in terms of speed. The captains of both ships were very jealous of each other. Competition between ships was intense. This led to the famous race of 1870.
No announcements were made about the upcoming race. Both ships departed from New Orleans on the same day according to the schedule: Natchez - to St. Louis, Robert E. Lee - to Louisville. There were no announcements, but everyone knew about the race. The captains took a small number of passengers on these flights and refused to take cargo - so as not to make unnecessary stops. From New Orleans, the ships saw off thousands of people, including from the decks of pleasure boats, who came out to wish good luck to the race participants. Passengers on the ships did not leave the decks almost around the clock, rooting for the success of their ship, because for a significant part of the journey the distance between the ships was minimal.
Natchez jumped out to the lead several times. But once he was interrupted by a minor car breakdown, which took half an hour to repair. Another time, a long stop was required to receive coal. John Cannon, captain of the steamship Robert E. Lee, acted more cunningly: having agreed in advance, he accepted coal from a self-propelled barge right on the move! Wanting to end the race in St. Louis, the captain transferred all the passengers traveling to Louisville to another ship at the mouth of the Ohio River and continued up the Mississippi. Further movement of the ships was greatly complicated by thick fog.
Robert E. Lee came to St. Louis first and was greeted with great jubilation. Natchez was able to reach its final destination only after six and a half hours. Although the winner was determined, the townspeople showed great honor to both captains, and the race went down in the history of Mississippi shipping.
The day is on the move! In America it is called the old-fashioned word Steamboatin'. A day of admiring the river, and, in fact, the real America, not the way many imagine it from overseas.
Taking advantage of the day of doing nothing, I bought the first batch of books about the Mississippi in the ship's store; there will be a second and a third. My friends always wonder why I bring so many books from every trip when everything can be downloaded from the Internet. But you can’t download a lot of things anywhere, and besides, it can be nice to hold a real book in your hands, especially a book about steamships. By the way, the most sensible book on the history of the Delta Queen steamship turned out to be... the cookbook The Delta Queen Cookbook. In addition to a collection of recipes for the ship's restaurant, it contained a lot of valuable information about the work of the ship.
In the evening we pass Evansville (Indiana). Evansville is on the next day's agenda.
And I'll tell you about the iconic rear-wheel steamer Delta Queen. Passengers remember him fondly; he is remembered fondly by former crew members, many of whom now work for American Queen.
The Delta Queen at the start of the race in Louisville. 2004 Photo by Joe Schneid
The Delta Queen, unlike many ships, is not "native" to the Mississippi. Together with the sister ship Delta King, it was built in 1927 to operate on the Sacramento River (California). The ships served the night line Sacramento - San Francisco. For those visiting Sacramento or San Francisco for the day, the cabin was available for the entire day. It was very convenient, and steamboats were very popular. Saturday and Sunday flights were especially popular, when there was live music on board.
The steamships operated successfully on their line even during the Great American Depression of the 1930s. It was only in 1940 that the line was stopped. The ships were converted into floating hospitals. Interestingly, in 1943, it was the military that carried out a major overhaul of the Delta Queen, which the ship was in dire need of.
It would seem that with the end of the war, the ships could return to peaceful work. But it turned out differently: the ships were no longer needed on the passenger line, and in 1946 they were sold at auction. Delta King later worked as an excursion boat on the Hudson River, and now serves as a hotel in Sacramento.
The fate of the Delta Queen turned out to be more interesting: the ship was towed by sea and through the Panama Canal to New Orleans, and from there along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Cincinnati. There his cruise work began, which lasted until 2008. The Delta Queen, from its first year on the Mississippi River system, carried tourists throughout the system from New Orleans to St. Paul and from Pittsburgh to Chattanooga. However, during the first years, cruises began and ended at the base port of Cincinnati.
At that time, the Delta Queen had a wonderful owner - Captain Mary Green, the first woman on the Mississippi to receive pilot and captain certificates. She loved the steamboat very much; she was loved by the crew and passengers. After death, the captain’s soul did not want to leave the ship (she died during the voyage). The ghost of Captain Mary lived on the ship at least until the early 1990s. This could be considered a beautiful legend, if not for dozens of testimonies from a variety of people. Almost all authors who write about Mississippi and have traveled on the Delta Queen more than once testify to meeting the ghost of Mary.
One of those who encountered the ghost of Captain Mary was a young sailor named Mike. In the winter of 1982, the Delta Queen was undergoing repairs, and one night Mike remained on duty on the ship. He dozed off, but was awakened by a whisper. There was no one else on the ship. Mike listened. Whispers came from the next room. Moving around the ship, the source of the sound led Mike to the boiler room. There the sound disappeared, but a serious water leak was discovered. Water flowed through the broken pump at such a speed that the ship was in danger of imminent flooding. If Mike, attracted by someone's whisper, had not ended up in the boiler room, the consequences could have been very sad. Mike subsequently served on the Delta Queen for many years and became the ship's captain. With all his sobriety, he has no doubt that Mary Green saved the ship that night.
Another captain of the Delta Queen, Doc Howley, also met the ghost of Mary Green more than once. The crew members of the ship were never afraid of this ghost, knowing that Mary had no intention of harming anyone, but simply continued to take care of the ship. The ghost disappeared in the early 1990s and has never been seen again. Mary Green probably decided to leave the earth.
The Delta Queen is preparing to depart from Paducah, Kentucky. 2007 Shadle Photo
In 1966, the US Congress adopted a new navigation safety convention, according to which ships with a wooden superstructure were prohibited from carrying out long voyages with passengers. For the ship Delta Queen, which has great historical value, an exception was made, that is, a so-called exemption from the convention was issued. Subsequently, this withdrawal was extended with a certain frequency and even with apparent ease.
Inspired by the success of the ship, Delta Queen Cruises built a large steamer Mississippi Queen in 1975, and in 1995 an even larger American Queen, the journey on which is the subject of my story.
The brilliant trio of steamships operated on the Mississippi River system until 2001. After the September 2001 terrorist attacks, when panic gripped America and people began to refuse to travel, Delta Queen Cruises went bankrupt. The ships missed the 2002 navigation, then the ships went into operation with a new owner, then did not work again, and finally in 2007 they passed to a third owner - the Majestic America Line company. This company soon realized that they had gotten involved in a business that, although beautiful from the outside, was difficult and unprofitable, and began to lose interest in steamships.
In 2008, Majestic America made no serious attempt to extend the Delta Queen's exemption from the convention, and in October 2008, the ship, having made its last voyage, was laid up - first in New Orleans, and then in Chattanooga, where the new owner, a steam ship enthusiast , uses it as a hotel. At the same time, all the mechanisms of the ship are maintained in working order, and the ship is always ready to sail. This is being done for a reason: now a serious struggle has flared up in the US Congress to formalize another exemption from the convention for Delta Queen. After all, this ship has the status of a historical monument, and many people, including congressmen from Ohio, would like to see the ship set sail again. But the American system works the same as in our country: if you miss the renewal of a permit once, then it will be extremely difficult to issue it again... We'll wait.
