riverboat chattanooga delta queen

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Southern Belle Riverboat

Sightseeing & sunset cruises in chattanooga, tn, featured cruises.

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Cruise the Grand Canyon of the Tennessee River and see one of nature’s most magnificent wonders dressed in all of its fall splendor.

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The absolute best sightseeing of the lovely city of Chattanooga is from the Southern Belle Riverboat. Enjoy a sightseeing cruise on our open-air deck with live narration!

Sunset Cruise

Grab a glass of wine from the concession, kick back, and relax as we cruise down the lazy Tennessee River on a two-hour scenic tour on our open-air deck.

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About the southern belle.

The Southern Belle Riverboat started out with a simple vision: give a great guest experience of Chattanooga, show everyone the beauty of the river, and give everyone a different perspective of the city of Chattanooga. If you know about us, you know that message is still the same; the boat crew at The Southern Belle Riverboat still strives to give you a great cruise, great service, and a great experience. Join us for a riverboat cruise today!

Cruise Through Our Five-Star Reviews

Captain Matt greeted us with a warm, welcoming smile. We found seats on the second deck right away with a nice table and a wonderful view. The captain took a genuine interest in finding out where the guests were from and held a conversation with each of them. It was nice to be on board with such a personable staff! Captain Matt handled everything with such professionalism. We will definitely revisit the Southern Belle this summer. It was a very awesome experience!

What a wonderful experience! Everyone was very welcoming and friendly. The crew was great, and the historical information about the bridges and the city was interesting. We have to give a shout out to Megan, the bartender onboard our 12:00 tour. Megan was AWESOME! Once she found out it was our anniversary, she went above and beyond to make us feel special. Thank you, Southern Belle, for a fabulous and memorable cruise!

We went there yesterday for my grandpa’s 93rd birthday and had a great time! We had a group of about 25 people, and they were able to accommodate us all. Everyone from the great-grandkids to the great-grandparents enjoyed it, and they even made a special announcement for his birthday. The kids loved going into the wheelhouse as well. Thank you for a great experience!

The Admirals Dinner cruise was awesome! We selected the window seat and a bottle of wine. The band, Courtney Daly and the Daly Grind were absolutely astounding. The servers were spot on, great job keeping up with drinks and such. We also order two mixed drinks and they were really good drinks, not watered-down alcohol. All and all, it was very enjoyable and a great time!

The Delta Queen will offer three-, five- and seven-night voyages operating on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland, Kanawha and Arkansas Rivers, to name a few. At this time, the Delta Queen Steamboat Company is creating the inaugural routes, ports and excursions for her first season. Please sign up for updates  to be the first to know when voyages and sail dates are announced.

Don’t miss the boat!

We appreciate your patience as the Delta Queen secures the necessary funds and resources to begin our extensive renovation process. We look forward to welcoming you aboard as soon as it’s possible to do so.

To stay in the loop, please sign up for updates here .

Can you Stay On The Delta Queen Riverboat Chattanooga?

No, you cannot stay on the Delta Queen Riverboat in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 2023.

The latest Delta Queen update is that it has been moved to undergo a complete restoration and will hopefully return to its duty of carrying passengers on three, five and seven-night river voyages.

I had the opportunity to spend a night on the historic and elegant riverboat when it was used as a floating hotel moored in Chattanooga.

Here is my experience and some Delta Queen history.

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A Memorable Night Aboard The Historic Delta Queen

Spending a night aboard the iconic riverboat, was a one of those memorable lifetime experiences and one that was once on my travel bucket list.

For those who don’t know its history, the legendary Delta Queen Paddlewheel Steamboat was the last fully operational, overnight passenger steamboat in the country before being turned into a floating hotel, moored in Chattanooga.

During a trip in 2013 (which I called my “Magical History Tour”), I logged 2,581 miles, visiting nine states in seven days. Spending a night on board this historic and legendary paddlewheel boat was one of the highlights.

Considering the turn of events, I feel really lucky to have had the opportunity to stay at the Delta Queen Riverboat hotel while it was located in Chattanooga.

All Aboard The Delta Queen Chattanooga

Stepping board the Delta Queen riverboat hotel is like taking a nostalgic trip back in time.

Built in the 1920s, the boat is lavishly decorated and retains its historic atmosphere. As someone said, it’s like staying at a Victorian bed-and-breakfast on water.

In her storied historic career, the Delta Queen riverboat logged more than  two million miles and carried more than half a million passengers.

The attention to detail is clear right from the start. As a matter of fact, at the time the Delta Queen was built in the mid 1920s, the normal cost of a boat was $75,000. Her final cost however was $850,000!

When you see the Tiffany-style stained glass windows, rich hardwood paneling, gleaming brass, and the beautiful Grand Staircase crowned by an elegant crystal chandelier, you can understand how the costs added up.

The lounges and public areas are roomy and comfortable; and the entire boat features mahogany and cherry wood trim.

As a result of her stylish and luxurious trimmings, the Delta Queen entertained U.S. presidents, foreign dignitaries and a multitude of celebrities.

Some of the Delta Queen’s most notable guests were: President Herbert Hoover, President Harry Truman, President Jimmy Carter, Princess Margaret, John Wayne and Elizabeth Taylor.

But lots of not-so-famous people had the opportunity to experience the hospitality of the Delta Queen over the years as well.

The Riverboat Race And War History

For instance, on June 26, 1938, the Delta Queen riverboat raced the Port of Stockton for a distance of 17 miles. She carried 900 passengers who paid 50 cents each, and, unfortunately lost the race by a whisker.

As if that history wasn’t enough, the Delta Queen served the U.S. Navy as a floating barracks, training facility and troop ferry from 1940-1946.

She is even credited with ferrying (as many as 3,200 men at once) wounded Pearl Harbor victims ashore from large ships.

For that feat, she was awarded two medals: An American Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal.

In 1989, the Delta Queen was designated a National Historic Landmark, and in January of 2004, she was inducted into the National Maritime Hall of Fame.

A Peek Inside The Cabin Aboard The Delta Queen

I have to admit, by today’s standards the regular quarters in the Delta Queen hotel were small and the doorways were short. I’m 5’ 9” so I had a little trouble in the low doorway department.

The door of the bathroom gave me the most trouble. It was very narrow and even shorter than the cabin door… something I had to get used to.

Still, I enjoyed seeing the brass fixtures and the lights that remain just as they were in the 1920s.

It’s hard to imagine what it would cost in today’s world to start from scratch and replicate the accents of quality that abound.

The brass, the Tiffany glass, the polished wood, all contribute to the charm and extravagance of the by-gone era and make it easy to imagine that you have stepped back in time.

A Unique And Memorable Experience

I often stay at historic Bed and Breakfasts or restored hotels, but being on the water and being surrounded by so many special touches adds another level of allure.

It’s impossible not to feel and sense the presence of history at every turn — a truly unique experience!

And what could be more romantic or wonderful for a historical fiction author than to experience the traditional southern charm of a Mississippi riverboat?

Getting the opportunity to spend a night at the Delta Queen hotel was something I will never forget.

Visiting Tennessee? Put the Dickson-Williams Mansion on your bucket list.

Passing The Time Aboard A Floating Riverboat Hotel

The afternoon we arrived was pleasant so we sat on the deck in rocking chairs and watched the boat traffic on the river.

Although not as busy as the Mississippi, which I had the opportunity to see later in my trip, there were a few tourist boats on the Tennessee River.

In the evening I went a few doors down to check out the bar, then relaxed in the downstairs lobby in a deep, comfortable leather chair.

Right beside where the historic riverboat was moored, I discovered a park, complete with an old-time (indoor) carousel. The Tennessee Aquarium is also close by, accessed by the world’s longest walking bridge across the Tennessee River.

This also takes visitors to the city’s Arts District and museums in Chattanooga. There are shops located in an old mill near to the Delta Queen as well so it’s a great location to use as home base during a visit to Chattanooga.

After dark, we were treated to a fireworks show over the water that was spectacular! I didn’t do very well in the picture-taking, but trust me, it was loud and colorful!

Is The Delta Queen Steamboat Haunted?

For all of the ghost hunters out there, I did get up in the middle of the night and walk around the deck, but I didn’t see anything — not even the spirit of the captain that supposedly haunts the boat.

The only problem I found while staying board the historic Steamboat Hotel was falling in love with the past and not wanting to return to the hectic pace of the present.

If you’re in Chattanooga and you want to see some ghosts, check out this 1.5-hour Cemetery Ghost Hunt in Chattanooga.

RELATED: The 14 Most Haunted Places in Gettysburg

Facts About the Delta Queen Riverboat

The  Delta Queen is 285 feet long, 58 feet wide, and draws 11.5 feet (3.5 m). She weighs 1,650 tons and has a capacity of 176 passengers.

The cross-compound steam engines generate about 2,000 horsepower, which power a stern-mounted paddlewheel.

Another unusual feature of the Delta Queen is her steam calliope, mounted on the Texas deck aft of the pilothouse. It covers approximately three octaves, and used to play while she was docking and undocking.

Here is a video of the famous riverboat’s final voyage in 2015 featuring the calliope.

What Happened To The Delta Queen?

The Delta Queen was forced to retire in 2008 because her exemption from the 1966 Safety at Sea act expired. This law prohibits ocean-bound vessels from carrying overnight passengers unless completely made of non-combustible materials.

Even though she was never more than several hundred yards from shore, this law applied to the Delta Queen. Congress approved nine exemptions over four decades to allow the riverboat to continue operations until 2008.

Where Is the Delta Queen Hotel Now?

While moored in Houma, Louisiana for restoration, the Delta Queen was impacted by a direct hit from Hurricane Ida on August 21, 2021.

Amazingly, despite being subjected to winds in excess of 150 mph for more than an hour, the Delta Queen did not suffer any major structural damage.

However the storm ripped away some of the waterproofing membrane on the roof, as well as several sections of handrail along the stern (rear) of the vessel. Several doors were damaged and about a dozen windows were broken.

It’s a true testament to the craftsmanship of the Delta Queen riverboat’s builders that she held up so well, especially when compared to adjacent structures in the area.

Once funding is secured, the the Delta Queen Steamboat Company plans to replace the boilers, which are original to the boat and constructed in 1919.

The generators, main steam line, heating and air, plumbing and galley will also be either upgraded or replaced entirely in this massive historic preservation effort.

Common areas and staterooms will undergo various cosmetic updates.

All Aboard The Delta King

If you feel like you’ve missed out on a great opportunity to spend the night in an authentic riverboat, don’t despair. The Delta Queen Steamboat has a twin brother, the Delta King!

This authentic paddlewheel riverboat has been revived to its former glory and converted into a boutique hotel. It is moored along the Old Sacramento Waterfront, and provides riverfront dining, nightlife, conference facilities, and a beautiful riverside wedding venue. 

Moored in Sacramento, California, the Delta King is a riverboat hotel that offers 44 beautiful high-class rooms with breakfast.

Historic Timeline Of The Delta Queen

☑️ The Delta Queen and Delta King were created in Scotland from 1924 to 1927, and was then shipped in pieces to Stockton, California, where it was reassembled.

☑️ December 12, 1925 – Delta Queen was launched in Stockton, California

☑️ The “royal twins” were christened on May 20, 1927

☑️ June 2, 1927 – Maiden voyage from San Francisco to Sacramento

☑️ June 26, 1938 – Delta Queen and Port of Stockton raced 17 miles from Sacramento down river to Clarksburg. Delta Queen carried 900 passengers who paid 50 cents each. Port of Sacramento won by a whisker.

☑️ Autumn 1940 to August 1946 – Served U.S. Navy as floating barracks, training facility and troop ferry. Placed in service as Yard House Boat, she ferried (up to 3,200 men at once) wounded Pearl Harbor victims ashore from large ships.

☑️ December 17, 1946 – Delta Queen sale confirmed for $46,250 to Cincinnati, Ohio’s Greene Line Steamers.

☑️ April 19 – May 18, 1947 – Delta Queen crated and towed more than 5,000 miles from California through the Panama Canal to New Orleans.

☑️ Summer 1947 – Summer 1948 – Delta Queen proceeds under her own power to Pittsburgh and undergoes $750,000 in renovations.

☑️ April 1963 – Delta Queen and Belle of Louisville race and it is a publicity success.

☑️ 1966 – Congress passed law banning wooden superstructures with more than 50 guests but the Delta Queen was granted two-year exemption, which was later extended to 1970.

☑️ June 1970 – Delta Queen was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

☑️ October 21 – November 1, 1970 – Farewell cruise from St. Paul to NOLA because exemption expired.

☑️ December 1970 – A new exemption added as an amendment to another bill and signed into law!

☑️ September 1971 – Delta Queen is contracted to carry U.S. mail with its own postmark.

☑️ August 17 – 24, 1979 – President Jimmy Carter and his family ride a St. Paul to St. Louis cruise.

☑️ 1989 – The Delta Queen is designated National Historic Landmark.

☑️ January 2004 – The Delta Queen is inducted into National Maritime Hall of Fame.

RELATED STORY: If You Enjoy Historic Hotels, check out 106 Jefferson in Huntsville

The Delta Queen Steamboat Company

The current owner of the paddlewheel riverboat is the Delta Queen Steamboat Company, which traces its roots back to 1890.

At that time, Gordon C. Greene and his wife Mary Becker Greene purchased a steamboat by the name of H.K. Bedford and operated it under the flag of the Greene Line Steamers.

The family-run business continued to operate steamboats on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, eventually entering the tourist trade.

In 1974, the company changed names to the Delta Queen Steamboat Company.

Following a succession of owners, the company ceased operations in 2008, when the Delta Queen was forced into retirement following the expiration of legislation permitting vessels of wooden construction from operating.

The Delta Queen Steamboat Company is now owned and operated by a team of supporters dedicated to preserving the nation’s last authentic overnight steamboat.

Where To Stay In Chattanooga

Even if you can’t stay on the Delta Queen, there are still plenty of unique accommodations in Chattanooga! It’s a great city with Lookout Mountain being a must-see for history buffs!

Moxy Chattanooga Downtown Marriot : Unique pet-friendly hotel with free cocktail for guests!

The Read House : 4-star hotel with indoor pool.

Bluff View Inn : 3-star B&B with 2 restaurants

Things to Do In Chattanooga

Chattanooga Trolley and Train Ride

Adults-Only Haunted City Walk

Swincar Back-Country Tour

Other Tours and Activities

Author and Travel Blogger

Jessica James is an award-winning historical fiction author and life-long Gettysburg resident who loves sharing her passions for history and travel. She enjoys exploring the back roads of the USA and uncovering stories about unique destinations, cultures and almost-forgotten history.

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I worked on the DQ from 89 until Katrina forced me to leave. Lots of memories, worked with great people. The crew was like family.

I bet that was a great experience! Can’t imagine being surrounded by that beautiful craftsmanship and history every day.

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Delta Queen

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Specifications of Delta Queen

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Delta Queen Review

Review of delta queen.

MS Delta Queen is an authentic American stern paddle-wheel steamboat. The ship has historically been used for cruises on Mississippi River and its tributaries, and mostly in Southern USA. Following a major refit, the boat was scheduled to start operations in 2020, with voyages on Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee, Arkansas and Kanawha rivers.

The vessel (IMO number 8643327) is currently USA- flagged (MMSI 366950730) and serves as a hotel permanently moored in Sacramento CA .

The riverboat was launched in 1925 and started operations in 1927. The paddlewheeler was docked in Chattanooga Tennessee, serving as a hotel ship until purchased by the newly established Delta Queen Steamboat Company. In March 2015, the vessel was towed to Gulf Island Fabrication Inc shipyard (in Houma Louisiana) to be drydock refurbished to its original condition.

The current shipowner is the Kimmswick Missouri -based Delta Queen Steamboat Company.

Delta Queen has a cross-compound steam powerplant, which engines generate 1,5 MW power output. As propulsion, the boat is moved by its stern-mounted paddlewheel. This riverboat is the last surviving (original) overnight steam-powered cruise ship on Mississippi River.

Shipboard facilities include Forward Cabin Lounge (with a roof-covered terrace/Front Porch of America), Texas Lounge (bar lounge with large windows, comfortable seating, full-service Bar, an open-air terrace/alfresco venue with 4-seat tables), Lobby Hall (Reception Desk/Purser, Gift Shop), Betty Blake Library (Reading Room / Cards Room), Orleans Room (Restaurant & Galley/kitchen), Engine Room Viewing (lounge with views of the stern paddlewheel).

The boat has 5 decks , of which 4 are passenger-accessible and 3 with cabins . All cabins on Sundeck and Texas Deck have direct access to wraparound Promenades (outdoor walking areas) from where via outdoor stairs are accessed other decks.

An unusual feature of the Delta Queen steamboat is the steam calliope mounted on Sundeck (adjacent/aft of the Pilothouse/Navigation Bridge). Calliope is a 19th-century invented musical instrument (aka steam organ / steam piano) producing sounds by sending steam through large whistles. The riverboat's calliope covers about 3 octaves and was used to play the vessel while docking (berthing) and undocking. Sometimes, the ship's Master (Captain) extended this courtesy to other ships as well.

In 1989, Delta Queen was designated a "National Historic Landmark" (NHL, officially recognized by the US government). As such, the cruise ship can't sail with over 50 passengers onboard - based on SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea Act) requirements issued in 1966. That law also prohibits overnight cruises on wooden ships. The riverboat has a steel hull, but its public spaces and all staterooms are mostly of wooden construction. Delta Queen sailed for decades under SOLAS exemption, but this expired in 2008. The historic steamship is also included in the USA's National Register of Historic Places and National Maritime Hall of Fame.

In July 2015, two US senators from Ohio State introduced a bill that would let the riverboat Delta Queen to operate once again overnight passenger cruise service. The bill is a companion to legislation introduced in March 2015. The new legislation would require the installation of modern safety equipment and would grant the riverboat a 15-years exemption to the SOLAS rule (standard practice until 2008).

Currently, the cruise ship is undergoing refits in Houma Louisiana. The refit project is led by Delta Queen Steamboat Company's President and CEO Cornel J. Martin. His partners (Leah and Randy Ingram) previously operated the vessel (IMO 8643327) as a ship hotel, being permanently moored in Chattanooga TN. Steamboat's drydock refit and refurbishment cost were estimated at around USD 5 million.

A provision found in the 2018-modified version of the Senate's USCG authorization bill exempted Delta Queen from federal law and USCG regulations. These regulations currently require vessels with overnight accommodations for 50+ passengers to be made of fireproof materials. The boat's owner redesigned the steamship to passenger capacity 174. In 1966, US law was changed to require fireproofing of boats with large berthing capacity following the 1965 fire on SS Yarmouth Castle (wooden steamship) in the Caribbean. The accident killed 90 people.

Delta Queen cruises on Mississippi and its tributaries. The regularly scheduled itineraries are operated with departures from New Orleans to Memphis TN , St Louis MO , St Paul MN , Cincinnati OH  and other major riverport cities.

The above itinerary map shows all river ports planned to be included in the Delta Queen steamboat's schedule.

Note: You can see the CruiseMapper's list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there. For similarly-designed (stern paddlewheel) US riverboats you can check the fleets of American Cruise Lines and American Queen Voyages/Steamboat Company (AQSC) . Also similar (but way smaller) is the Australian steamship Murray Princess (1988-built).

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Delta Queen Wiki

"The Country Gentlemen" music band (with Charlie Waller as leader) recorded the song "Delta Queen" as part of their 1974 album "Remembrances and Forecasts". Written by Pete Goble and Leroy Drumm, the song was inspired after Leroy saw the steamship cruising down Tennessee River in the early 1970s.

For a few years, there were rumours about Mary Greene's ghost haunting the Delta Queen ship. Mary was the wife of Gordon Greene - Greene Line's founder. Riverboat Captain in her own right, the woman died on the ship on April 22, 1949. Since then, crew and passengers have reported strange occurrences and sounds onboard, attributed to Mary's ghost, particularly around her former quarters.

Delta Queen's sistership is Delta King (launched 1925). The sistership was christened in May 1927 and used to cruise in California (between Sacramento and San Francisco ) on 10-hour long itineraries. In 1981, Delta King sank while laid up in Richmond CA. The boat was raised, towed to Sacramento CA and refurbished (5-year project) at cost USD 9 million. Today, Delta King serves as a 44-room hotel ship (permanently moored in Sacramento CA) featuring a premium restaurant. The ship also doubles as Capital Stage - run by an onboard professional theatre company. This riverboat is also listed in Sacramento's NRHP (National Register of Historic Places) as object deemed worthy of preservation.

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Breaking News

Historic delta queen steamboat to resume overnight voyages on inland waterways; was once docked near coolidge park.

• Tuesday, November 27, 2018

The nation’s last authentic overnight steamboat may once again cruise the rivers of America’s Heartland and Deep South. The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to reinstate an exemption to allow the Delta Queen Steamboat to return to service after a decade-long retirement. 

“A remarkable piece of the nation’s maritime history is reborn,” said Leah Ann Ingram, vice president and chief operating officer of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company. “The Delta Queen is an American icon that offers a nostalgic experience unlike any other vessel. Since 2010, restoring and returning her to overnight service has been our mission. Today, we’re thrilled to take the next step to welcoming explorers and history enthusiasts aboard this floating piece of history.”

Beginning in 2020, themed voyages will operate on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland, Kanawha and Arkansas Rivers. The vessel will first undergo an extensive renovation at a ship yard in Houma, La.

The Delta Queen was in Chattanooga docked near Coolidge Park as a floating hotel until it was moved to be restored.

“Preserving the boat’s historic integrity and ensuring passenger safety are our priorities,” said Cornel Martin, president and CEO of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company. “With this approval, we may now move forward with our renovations and return her the waterways, where she belongs.” 

In 2008, the Delta Queen was forced to retire from service when her Congressional Exemption from the 1966 Safety at Sea act expired. The law intended to prohibit ocean-bound vessels from carrying overnight passengers unless completely made of non-combustible materials included the Delta Queen, even though she was never more than several hundred yards from shore. Congress approved nine exemptions over four decades to allow the Delta Queen to continue operations until 2008. The vote today completes a decade-long legislative effort to renew the exemption. 

Once signed into law by the President, major repairs will begin to allow the Delta Queen to return to overnight service.

“We are thrilled the Delta Queen will be restored to her original grandeur and returned to our riverfront,” said Mayor Philip D. Stang of Kimmswick, the vessel’s home port. “The distinction she brings to our city elevates our presence as a historic destination. In addition, the revival of river cruising will create hundreds of jobs and a significant economic boom in Kimmswick and the many other ports of call. We are grateful for this partnership and look forward to generations of cruising to come.”

The Delta Queen is a National Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. The steamboat is also included in the National Maritime Hall of Fame and was named a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

“On behalf of all of us at The Delta Queen Steamboat Company, we would like to thank our past passengers, supporters, crew members and law makers who did not give up on our efforts to save the Queen,” said Mr. Martin. 

“Returning the Delta Queen to service would have been impossible without our supportive legislators, namely Ohio Congressman Steve Chabot, Missouri Senators Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt, and Missouri Congressmen Blaine Luetkemeyer and Jason Smith,” added Ms. Ingram. “In addition, we must thank the many government officials in Jefferson County, Port Authority and Economic Development Corporation who have been steadfast in their dedication to the Delta Queen’s return to her home port.”

For more information about the Delta Queen and upcoming cruises, go to  www.DeltaQueen.com .

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Historic Delta Queen to Resume Cruising U.S. Rivers

By Zac Thompson

12/07/2018, 11:00 AM

The Delta Queen riverboat will once again cruise American waterways. 

A floating National Historic Landmark, the 1920s-era vessel has been docked in Chattanooga, Tennessee, since 2008 due to a law banning overnight cruises on wooden ships. 

But a bipartisan measure exempting the Delta Queen from that prohibition was approved by Congress, clearing the way for multiday excursions aboard the historic steamboat to resume.

There are safety provisions in the exemption. According to the Associated Press , modifications will need to be made to the wooden elements, including cabins and public areas—though not to the hull, which is steel.

Before it was taken out of service, the Delta Queen had a long run on the Mississippi River and its tributaries, beginning in 1927. Three U.S. presidents—Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman, and Jimmy Carter—have taken voyages on the vessel. During World War II, it was requisitioned by the Navy, painted gunmetal gray, and sent to San Francisco Bay to transport wounded sailors from battleships to hospitals. 

Among the musical odes to the Delta Queen: recordings   by Ronnie Milsap, Charlie Waller & the Country Gentlemen, and others.

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The delta queen is a visitor missed by many.

Last weekend Marietta was treated to a wide-variety of sternwheelers that stopped by town to visit for a while and enjoy the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival.

One sternwheeler that has not paid a visit to our levee in a long time is the Delta Queen. She can’t, she hasn’t visited anywhere since 2008.

I have always had a special place in my heart for the old boat. A tiny photo of it was the first photo that I had published anywhere when it was featured on the front page of Marietta High School newspaper “The Original” in the mid 1970s.

The Delta Queen started life not on the river system, but on the delta of the Sacramento River in California. Built in Scotland along with the Delta King in 1928, the pair were then broken into sections and shipped to California. The 250×58 foot boats would provide daily service between the state capital and San Francisco. During World War II, the two boats were painted battleship gray and were used to shuttle troops and supplies around the bay. After the war, new uses would be found for the crafts. The surplus boats were put up for auction. The Delta King would eventually become a hotel in the capital. Ohio River Captain Tom Greene wanted a boat and he got the Queen after bidding $46,000. It would soon be moving east.

Moving a 250-foot sternwheeler across the country required it to be boarded up and prepared for an ocean voyage and a transit through the Panama Canal. Being towed by the tug Osage, the trip from California to New Orleans took more than a month and covered 5,380 miles. After being converted back to a river-worth crafty, it traveled up the Mississippi, and up the Ohio before arriving in Pittsburgh for a renovation that would take months. On the way it would pass Cincinnati, where the Greene family lived, pass Marietta, and pass Newport, where Greene was born.

The Queen then began a decades-long career on the inland river system, visiting some 80 ports. In 1966 a wood cruise ship caught fire and congress passed laws limiting how wood boats could be used.

The Queen of course was not a cruise ship, it was never more than a few hundred feet from the safety of land. It was granted an exemption to the law. The exemption ran out in 2008 and it became a hotel in Chattanooga. It was granted a new exemption in 2018, but after sitting idle for a decade many of the systems on the boat needed upgrades.

The Delta Queen has always had a special connection with Marietta. Making stops every time it came upriver, it visited the area long before the larger and more modern crafts were even on the drawing board.

The boat paved the way for others to visit, including the larger Mississippi Queen that once docked alongside the Delta Queen at the levee, as well as the modern and steel boats that try to duplicate the magic of the steamboat era.

I have managed to get on board her a few times for photos. It is a truly remarkable craft.

The current owners of the boat, the Delta Queen Steamboat Company hope to once again provide cruises. Progress to return her to cruise-ready condition has been extremely slow according to several Delta Queen fan pages on Facebook.

For the foreseeable future we will just have to get our sternwheel fix from the annual sternwheel festival, from local boats like the Valley Gem, from a large model of the craft that can be found near the lobby of the Lafayette Hotel and from modern “old” boats that pull into the levee from time-to-time.

Art Smith is the online manager of The Times. He can be reached at [email protected].

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Delta Queen Hotel

Best Riverboat In The States!

Area Attractions

Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau: ChattanoogaFun.com is the trusted source for travel, tourism, and convention planning in Chattanooga. Learn about spectacular attractions, world-class dining, luxurious accommodations, and great events the whole family can enjoy.

The Tennessee Aquarium Visit the Tennessee Aquarium on the Chattanooga Riverfront and see why it was rated one of the top aquariums in the country by TripAdvisor. Take a remarkable journey from a cove forest high in the Appalachian mountains to a coral reef in the blue depths of the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way, see thousands of animals and three living forests . . . exploring life above and below the water’s surface. The Tennessee Aquarium is walking distance from The Delta Queen Hotel.

Chattanooga City Zoo The Chattanooga City Zoo, formerly the Warner Park Zoo, is a great way to spend time with the whole family. This attraction is drawing more attention with locals and tourists alike. The Chattanooga Zoo sits on 6 acres in the middle of Warner Park, only 2 miles from downtown Chattanooga. There, you’ll find animals and information from all over the world, including Latin America, North America, Africa, and Asia.

The Creative Discovery Museum

Creative Discovery Museum is one of the premier hands-on children’s museums in the region. Gather the young and young-at-heart and make plans now to visit the Creative Discovery Museum. Whether it’s for a couple of hours or the whole day, time spent at the Museum is sure to be worthwhile learning for the whole family.

The Hunter Museum of Art Walk over The Walnut Street Bridge, one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world overlooking the Tennessee River and Coolidge Park and you will find yourself at The Hunter Museum of Art. The Hunter Museum focuses on American art from the Colonial period to the present day. The museum is located in an historical mansion and a sleek contemporary building on the 80 foot bluffs overlooking the Tennessee River.

North Shore Merchants Coolidge Park Landing is located among Chattanooga attractions in the North Shore community offering trendy shops and eateries along the Tennessee Riverfront.

Southside Chattanooga With its historic buildings, industrial architecture and revitalized community, Chattanooga’s Southside has become a hub for locally owned businesses, energized entrepreneurs and enlivened artists. On the Southside you can experience the excitement of boutique shopping, enjoy an array of cuisine in the oldest and newest downtown restaurants, and explore the arts through public art, working studios, and fine art galleries. So come, take a stroll on the Southside and discover all that it has to offer.