Known by numerous names such as riverboat, paddleboat, sternwheeler, and the showboat, the steamboat was invented by Robert Fulton and revolutionized river travel between 1810 and the Civil War along the muddy Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri Rivers. St. Louis alone saw close to three thousand steamboat arrivals in 1850. Commerce was on the move as the steam riverboat provided a cheap and quick means of delivering merchandise and passengers. 

A paddleboat or paddlewheeler is a ship or boat propelled by one or more paddle wheels driven by an engine. Boats with paddle wheels on the sides are also called sidewheelers, while those with a single wheel on the stern are known as sternwheelers. Sternwheelers have generally been used as riverboats, especially in the United States, where they still operate for tourist use. On a river, the narrowness of a sternwheeler is preferable.

 The most important advantage of a paddlewheel-powered boat is the low draught, so the boats could go far up the rivers, even when the water level was very low. This was a very important fact for the frontiers by opening up the continent for settlement.

No two steamboats were built exactly alike but all of them had port and starboard smokestacks, engine exhausts and a pilot house on the top deck. The steamboats were elaborate and held a certain aura with their grand staircases, carpeted lounges and luxurious passenger cabins. Professional gamblers frequented the saloons and lounges on the boats.

With the building of the first transcontinental railroad in the West, the steamboat became a relic to an era gone by. With the passengers and gamblers gone, the saloons were no longer needed. The upper decks were converted to theaters, playing Shakespeare and opera to vaudeville. Some steamboats were employed to push barges. The Army employed steamboats to deliver supplies and carrying mail. It was the small steamboat, the Far West which brought the news of the Battle of the Little Big Horn and the death of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and his men, the wounded from Reno and Benteen battalions. In 54 hours, the pilot, Captain Grant Marsh, covered 710 miles of treacherous uncharted water to reach Bismarck and deliver the news to the nation.

While we won't be in any uncharted water, we're about to embark on some awesome sternwheeler adventures that you won't want to miss!   

Celebration Belle Riverboat Cruise  August 18-21, 2014
Guaranteed Departure from $679
You depart for a wonderful experience as your motor coach whisks you away for an excursion adventure on the Mississippi River. Try your luck at a hand of poker once you have checked into the Isle Hotel and Casino in Bettendorf, Iowa. Relax and enjoy your all-day cruise to Dubuque Iowa while listening to the narratives from the captain of the Celebration Belle. Admire one of the five finest Religious Tiffany collections of stained glass windows during your visit to St. Lukes United Methodist Church.  

Centennial Festival of Riverboats   
October 17-20, 2014            
from $789

Not Tall Stacks, but close. Come celebrate 100 years of the Belle of Louisville as nine riverboats converge on Louisville, KY for this celebration. You will stay in the center of the action at the historic Galt House, enjoy a performance at Derby Dinner, sail aboard one of the paddle wheelers in the parade, watch spectacular fireworks, visit the Howard Steamboat Museum, cheer for you favorite boat in the race, visit local museums, and enjoy delicious meals. 

American Queen  Individual departures available. Please give us a call at 513-777-8221 for more information about the American Queen.