June/July

When the steamboat New Orleans was first introduced on the Ohio River in 1811, she proved that the power of steam could make upstream travel effective and efficient. The impact of this mysterious new mode of travel was felt dramatically through its immediate impact on commerce. But so mysterious was it considered, that skeptics blamed the power of the New Orleans to have been responsible for both an earthquake and the appearance of a comet during one of her trips along the Ohio.

Today, millions of people around the world still share in the wonder and spectacle of steamboating. Its magic and mystery have attracted enthusiasts from around the globe to Tall Stacks since 1988, creating a new era in the history of steamboats.

Each month, Tall Stacks Online is proud to feature historical highlights in This Month in Steamboat History, preserving a rich, mysterious and continuing legacy of the ongoing story of steamboating.

Coney Island First Opens: June 21, 1886

River captains J.D. Hegler and William F. McIntyer purchased a local Cincinnati picnic grounds named Parker's Grove in early 1886 for a purchase price of $17,500. The captains changed the name of the property to Ohio Grove, Coney Island of the West, and added rides and food stands. Of particular note was the park's inclusion of electric lighting throughout, which in 1886, was considered an extreme novelty.

The easiest access to the Grove from Cincinnati was by boat, and steamers Thomas Sherlock and Guiding Star served as the original transportation to the park. These "Floating Palaces" left the foot of Sycamore street downtown each day at nine o'clock in the morning, two in the afternoon and at seven in the evening, transporting visitors to Ohio Grove. The park still exists, but over the years has adopted its once-nickname as its official reference, Coney Island.

Delta Queen Lands at New Cincinnati Home: July 27, 1947

In late 1946, Captain Tom Greene of the Green Line Company of Steamboats bid $46,250 for the Delta Queen, which he intended to use as a cruise-boat on the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. As the sole bidder, Greene was awarded the boat, however there was one problem: the Queen was in California at the time.

The Rocky Mountains presented a considerable problem, as Greene was forced to figure out a way to get the steamboat uphill and across the Continental Divide. The captain instead opted to bring the Queen to Cincinnati across the Pacific Ocean, through the Panama Canal and the Gulf of Mexico, and finally up the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.

On Coast Guard advice, Greene boxed the outside of the Queen with a double layer of wood planking two decks high, and fitted the interior with shoring and braces. Her paddlewheel was dismantled, removed and stored on deck, preparing her for sea as a barge towed around on a hawser.

The Delta Queen made history as the first and only paddlewheel steamboat to transit the Panama Canal. After being uncrated and reassembled for river navigation, the Queen arrived and tied up at her new home in Cincinnati on July 27, 1947, where she returns each year for an annual homecoming celebration.

Calliope Challenge on Cincinnati Waterfront: July 3, 1958

Calliope challenges occasionally took place between the calliope players aboard different steamboats docked at the same port. One such impromptu competition took place at the Cincinnati waterfront on the evening of July 3, 1958 between sternwheelers Avalon and the Delta Queen, which were tied up, taking on their passengers and entertaining those who gathered. "Doc" Hawley of the the Avalon and Jay Quinby of the Delta Queen "dueled" on their respective calliopes to the delight of the crowds which were drawn from the shores of Kentucky and Ohio.

Legislation Threatens Operation of Delta Queen: July 1966

In 1966, efforts to improve ship safety in the United States resulted in the passage of a new "Safety at Sea" law by the U.S. House of Representatives. If passed by the Senate, the new law would forbid the operation of the Delta Queen, effective July 1, 1966. Company officials learned of the legislation just six weeks before it was to go into effect, and appealed to the Senate Subcommittee on Merchant Marines and Fisheries.

Congress granted the Delta Queen and other ship owners a two-year exemption period in which to rework their vessels to comply with the new law. During that time, the Delta Queen underwent massive overhauls to comply with fire resistance safety standards.

Mississippi Queen Makes Maiden Voyage: July 27, 1976

On July 27, 1976, the maiden voyage of the Mississippi Queen placed her in the company of the Delta Queen as the only two genuine steamboats in the world with sleeping accommodations and the necessary requirements to qualify as true cruise vessels. The Mississippi Queen, however, retains the title as the largest steamboat ever built.