


Steamboating on the Delta Queen
May 2008
The paddlewheel steamboat Delta Queen has been exploring the wonders of America’s rivers since her maiden voyage on June 2,1927. The pages of her history are filled with remarkable characters and tales of adventure, romance, patriotism, greed and tragedy.
Delta Queen has endured the Great Depression, served in World War II, journeyed from California through the Panama Canal to the Mississippi River system, cruised more than one million miles, and repeatedly wrestled Congress to survive.
For more than half a century, she remained the last operating overnight paddlewheel steamboat built of wood. Sadly, that journey ended when she was forced into retirement November 1, 2008.