Memphis, we’re gettin’ us a steamboat!

Image via Wikipedia*

I am sure you have heard the news. In conjunction with the Beale Street Landing project, a private company, bolstered by tax dollars, is bringing a steamboat to Memphis for overnight river tours.   The American Queen is a big boat – 418 feet (127 m) long and 89 feet (27 m) wide, with 222 state rooms for a capacity of 436 guests and a crew of 160.  The American Queen cruised the Mississippi River system for a while, but  tourisim was not lucrative enough to keep the owner,  Majestic America Line, afloat.  She was returned to the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) who held her $30 million mortgage, in November of 2008.  She is currently in storage (mothballed?) in MARAD’s fleet in Beaumont, Texas.   If you are a fan of steamboats, Steamboats.org is the site for you; here’s their write-up on the American Queen.

When the Queen was owned by Majestic America Line, they apparently did a nice job of marketing the steamer to luxury tourists. Here’s what’s left of an ad on a travel website that shows deck plans.  A  review of a cruise on the American Queen paints a romantic picture.  This video shows the grandiose appointments of the boat when it was in its prime. Continue reading →