Belle of Louisville
Home Port: Louisville, Kentucky

Built: 1914, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Passenger Capacity:
Harbor Cruises: 650
Riverboat Race, Themed Harbor and Parade of Tall Stacks Cruise: 500
Lunch and Dinner Cruises: 324

Length: 200 Feet

Levels: 3 decks (2 enclosed and 1 open-air)

Captain(s): Captain Kevin Mullen

Belle of Louisville
Authentic Steamboat Sternwheeler

The Belle of Louisville is one of the last original Mississippi River-style steamboats in existence and is now a National Historic Landmark. Originally a ferry and day packet carrying passengers, freight and even livestock, she is now one of America’s most beautiful passenger vessels.

Known as the Idlewild, the “Belle” had a brief military career in the 1940’s towing oil barges (an affectionate misnomer as barges on the river are pushed not pulled) up and down the Mississippi River to aid the war effort. She also operated in the Cincinnati harbor as the Avalon before Jefferson County, Kentucky purchased her in April of 1963 at auction. This traditional race with the Delta Queen, also known as the “Battle for the Golden Antlers,” continues every year during Kentucky Derby week and has been repeated at each Tall Stacks since 1988.

The Belle of Louisville will grace Tall Stacks 2006 with her sixth consecutive appearance, having participated in Tall Stacks ’88, ’92, ’95, ’99 and ‘03

Featured on lunch and dinner cruises is the Buffalo Ridge Jazz Band Quartet . Breakfast cruises will feature the Rabbit Hash String Quartet. The Taylor Farley Banjo Trio will perform on the Belle's Riverboat Race cruises as well as during the Parade of Tall Stacks Cruise.

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