Delta Queen facts for kids
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Time table of the Delta Queenand the Delta Kingin their first season in 1927
The Delta Queen is a famous American steamboat. She is known for traveling on the big rivers that flow into the Mississippi River. These rivers are mostly in the Southern United States. The Delta Queen was once a floating hotel in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 2015, a new company bought her. She was moved to Houma, Louisiana, to be fixed up and made like new again.
The Delta Queen is about 285 feet long and 58 feet wide. She weighs 1,650 tons and can carry 176 passengers. Her powerful steam engines make 2,000 horsepower. These engines turn a large paddlewheel at the back of the boat. Built in 1927, she is the last steam-powered passenger boat that travels overnight on the Mississippi River system. In 1989, she was named a National Historic Landmark. This means she is a very important historical place.
Contents
- Building a Riverboat Queen
- Serving in World War II
- Famous Passengers and New Adventures
- Saving the Steamboat
- The Steam Calliope
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States |
|
| Name |
|
| Port of registry | Cincinnati,  United States |
| Ordered | 1924 |
| Builder | William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton, Scotland |
| In service | 1927 |
| Out of service | 2008 |
| Identification |
|
| Status | planned refurbishment |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Paddle steamer |
| Tonnage | 1,650 long tons (1,676 t) |
| Length | 285 ft (87 m) |
| Beam | 58 ft (18 m) |
| Draft | 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Capacity | 176 passengers |
|
Delta Queen (river steamboat)
|
|
| NRHP reference No. | 70000495 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | June 29, 1989 |
The Delta Queen Story
Building a Riverboat Queen
The main parts of the Delta Queen were ordered in 1924. They were built in Dumbarton, Scotland, at the William Denny & Brothers shipyard. The Delta Queen and her sister ship, the Delta King, were sent in pieces to Stockton, California, in 1926. Workers then put the two boats together. They were used for trips between San Francisco and Sacramento on the Sacramento River. They also went on trips to Stockton. At that time, they were the fanciest and most expensive riverboats ever built.
Serving in World War II
In 1940, a new highway made river travel less popular. So, the two boats were put away. During World War II, the United States Navy used them. They were called USS Delta Queen and USS Delta King. They were painted gray, like warships. Their job was to carry injured soldiers from ocean ships to hospitals in San Francisco Bay.
Famous Passengers and New Adventures
After the war, in 1946, the Delta Queen was bought by Greene Line. This company was from Cincinnati, Ohio. The boat traveled through the Panama Canal and up the Mississippi River to Pittsburgh. There, she was fixed up. In 1948, she started carrying passengers again. She traveled on the Ohio, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Cumberland Rivers. She visited many cities like New Orleans, St. Paul, and Nashville.
Three different United States Presidents have sailed on the Delta Queen. They were Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman, and Jimmy Carter.
Saving the Steamboat
In 1966, a new law about safety at sea was passed. This law would have stopped the Delta Queen from running. The boat was made mostly of wood, which could catch fire. But the law was meant for ocean ships, not riverboats. The Delta Queen is always close to shore.
People worked hard to save the boat. Betty Blake was a key person in this effort. She helped get special permission from Congress for the Delta Queen to keep sailing. This permission had to be renewed every few years. Thanks to these efforts, the Delta Queen was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. She became a National Historic Landmark in 1989.
The Steam Calliope
The Delta Queen has a special musical instrument called a steam calliope. It is on the upper deck. It sounds like a giant organ played with steam. The calliope was used to play music when the ship arrived at or left a port. It was a fun way to greet people.
The Delta Queen Today
The Delta Queen used to be operated by Majestic America Line. This company also owned other steamboats. The Delta Queen traveled on the Mississippi River and its smaller rivers. She went on trips from New Orleans to Memphis, St. Louis, and many other places.
Every year, the Delta Queen took part in the Great Steamboat Race. This race happened during the Kentucky Derby Festival in Louisville. She raced against the Belle of Louisville. The winner got a trophy of golden antlers.
In 2007, it was announced that the Delta Queen would stop sailing. Her special permission from Congress was ending. Many people worked to save her again. They started a "Save the Delta Queen" campaign.
At the end of 2008, the Delta Queen stopped offering cruises. In 2009, she moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee. She became a floating hotel there. She offered dining and live music. The hotel closed in 2014.
In 2015, a new company called Delta Queen Steamboat Co. bought the ship. On March 22, 2015, she left Chattanooga. She was towed to Houma, Louisiana, for big repairs and upgrades. She arrived safely in April 2015.
On November 27, 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives voted. They decided to give the Delta Queen a new exemption. This means she can return to service after being retired for ten years.
Hauntings
Mary Becker Greene was the wife of the Greene Line founder. She was also a riverboat Captain. She passed away on the boat in 1949. Some guests and employees have reported strange sounds and events on board. They believe these are caused by her spirit, especially near her old rooms.
