Jim's Bicycle Adventures: The Queen

The Queen paid a visit to Louisville, KY.

One of the great things about commuting by bike is you get a chance to see things you over look 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 a take a LOOK..

As some of you may have read from previous posts one of my spring and summer routes to work carries me along the Ohio River. Most commutes present themselves with the usual people, animals, interstate and bridge construction. However, there are those special occasions when something spectacular happens on the riverfront of the Ohio River; like a visit from famed steamboat, "The American Queen".

Commissioned by the former Delta Queen Steamboat Company; this majestic paddle wheeler was completed and launched in 1995 to the tune of approximately $60 million. At that time "The American Queen" was the third "Queen" from the now defunct Delta Queen Steamboat Company.

The American Queen went out of service in in 2001. However, in 2003 the American Queen went back into service after The Delta Queen Steamboat Company was bought by Delaware North Companies, Inc. In 2008 Majestic Cruise Lines of Delaware North decided to abandoned their cruise lines and the American Queen became idle again at a lake near Beaumont,TX. In 2011, the "Queen" came roaring back to life when acquired by Hornblower, a California based company focused on high quality dining, entertainment and cruise experiences. The new Great American Steamboat Company began operating cruises aboard "THE QUEEN" from their headquarters in Memphis, TN.

The American Queen is 418 feet long and 89 feet 4´´ high.

"THE QUEEN" has been through Louisville several times this summer. One of the cruises took them from Memphis,TN to Pittsburgh, Pa. with onshore stops at major league baseball parks in Cincinnati, OH. and Pittsburgh, PA. There are motor coaches which follow the boat's route and are used for sightseeing tours in each town. While in Louisville some of these onshore tours included local museums: Louisville Slugger Museum, Frazier International Military Museum, Muhammad Ali Center, Kentucky, Kentucky Arts and Craft Museum, Louisville Science Center and some visited the Kentucky Derby Museum.

Equipped with 222 staterooms the "Queen" gives room for up to 436 passengers. This requires about 160 crew members to serve and make their guests comfortable.

With a maximum speed of 12 mph, she cruises along the nation’s waterways at 7 mph powered by (2) (2) Norberg Machine Works steam engine, 750 hp.

When needed in areas where the paddle wheels can not navigate a set of diesel electric propellers are used.

The American Queen features these decks: The Sun, Promenade, Texas, Cabin, Observation and Main deck. On these decks you will fine an elegant dining room, fitness center, Bars/Lounges and dancing area, shops, Swimming pool, library, movie theatre, and the Grand Saloon which is two decks tall and resembles the small town opera houses of the 19th century that provides southern regional music.

Cabins include televisions and the ship has an internet center, Internet access and wireless internet access.

"THE QUEEN" will be back in Louisville in October 2014 for The Centennial Festival of Riverboats. This is a celebration of the 100^th Birthday of The Belle of Louisville. This event runs from October 14^th – 19^th, 2014 at the Louisville, KY. wharf. The wharf will be crowded with six riverboats scheduled to take part in the celebration. For more information about this festival visit the following website: http://festivalofriverboats.com/