The 100th

Birthday Of The Belle Of Louisville

        One of the great things about commuting by bike is you get a chance to see things you overlook or take for granted while driving.  Like a lot of you I live in a city (Louisville, KY.) which has so much to offer if you just slow down and look.

In previous posts I have written about one of my bicycle commute routes to and form work which takes me past some of the most historical places in Louisville, KY.   I wrote about a relationship I have been having with a lady along the Ohio River for many years.  October 14th - 19th, 2014,  there was a grand celebration for this lady. It was the The Centennial Festival of Riverboats for the 100th birthday of "The Belle of Louisville".

There were fireworks, steamboat races, music, food, cruises, and other entertainment celebrating this lady’s 100^th year.  I was unable to attend most of activities; however what I did attend was something special.

It was like stepping back into time with H. G. Wells', “Time Machine” or traveling in Marty McFly’s DeLorean.  If I looked hard enough I would no doubt see Mark Twain stepping aboard one of these paddle wheelers. Or see Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and Huck’s friend Jim peering around a corner checking out the festivities.  It was something special to see so many clothe in period garb.  Not period dress from the Belle's birth year, but dress from the 1850's to the 1900's.

 It has been a gala week of celebrating this vessels birthday and contribution to the inter waterways of this country. If there was one troubling aspect of this entire celebration was on the day I attended the lack of school children and younger people absent from this event.  

  
There was so much rich history on hand and reenactments of a times gone by.  Just look what I am referring to.

General Robert E. Lee

  

President & Mary Lincoln

One of the paddle wheelers on hand for the celebration was "The Spirit of Peoria"  From it's port in Peoria,IL. this relatively young riverboat (circa 1988) brought along some great music to entertain the crowd.

The Belle of Cincinnati was on hand, too.  This riverboat makes trips to Louisville almost annually for the Kentucky Derby Festival's "Great Steamboat Race"  Here the ship heads out of a celebration cruise.

      The Belle of Cincinnati

 

    The Belle of Cincinnati

                      

There is good reason this event is named a Centennial Festival of Riverboats.  One of the steamboats taking part in this weeks activities is nearing it’s 100^th year.   The W. P. Snyder Jr. was originally built in 1918 as the Carnegie Steel Co. towboat W. H. Clingerman by Rees of Pittsburgh, PA. This vessel has gone by a few names over the course of those years.   But in August 1945 she was sold to Crucible Fuel Co. of Pittsburgh, PA, and again renamed W. P. Snyder Jr. in September 1945.  The  “Snyder “ hails from  Marietta, OH. where it is part of an extensive collection of exhibits of The Sons and Daughters of Rivermen.

W.P.Snyder Jr. steam towboat

 

 Another participant leaving  out on a day cruse is the "River Queen".  This riverboat shares port with the Belle of Cincinnati.

The  River Queen

The Belle of Louisville has amassed a number of accomplishments over the past 100 years.  She was designated a National Historic Landmark on June 30, 1989.   The Belle has become the most widely traveled steamboat in the country.  Used as a USO nightspot on the Mississippi River to help in the war effort during World War II.  In 1988 as part of the Talls Stacks celebration in Cincinnati,OH. was highlighted as the nation's oldest and most authentic river steamboat.  

Here she sets sail on one of the many birthday cruises she made this past week. 

Here's to another 100 years, "MY LADY"

Cincinnati, OH., Memphis, TN., Peoria, IL., Marietta, OH., New Orleans, LA., and Louisville, KY. are all ports for these and other riverboats.  If you are bicycle touring to or bicycle commuting in one of these cities take some time and experience a cruise aboard one of these relic steamboats.

The Centennial Festival of Riverboats

A Video Look back

Ride your bike today and see what you have missed in your city

 

 

 

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