ll Cincinnati its home port for many years and every May on the day before Derby Day, it would race the Belle of Louisville from Cincinnati to Louisville.
I’d love to see them start that up again. That would be a GREAT way to go to the Derby.
The SS Sultana still lurks in my memory. I think the remains of its, well, the owner/captain’s, victims are still occasionally are uncovered, or thought to be from the Sultana.
The race wasn’t from Cincinnati to Louisville. At least none I remember. The Delta Queen would come to Louisville for the race. Then race from one of the bridges to up a ways (a distance) and turn around.
Yes, it would be great to have the Belle of Louisville’s true opponent take her rightful place back in that event - the stand-ins are pretend steamboats.
I’ve been aboard the Delta Queen many times however the race was not from Louisville to Cincinnati but usually from the Clark (2nd St) bridge in Louisville to 18 Mile Island and back. The Delta Queen was Ported in Cincinnati for many years and the Bell of Louisville (formerly the Idlewilde) was ported in Louisville. Both boats were of similar age, the Belle a few years older. The race is noted for cheating such as hidden tug boats to turn the boats around and other quick turn around methods. It was always good fun and people would line the banks of the river to watch something that is rare now but was common a hundred or so years ago. Even up to the 1950’s there were a few steam boats plying the river.
The annual race started and ended at the George Rogers Clark bridge in Louisville. They raced upstream to 6 Mile Island, turned around, and then back to the bridge. About 14 miles total.
We all looked forward to the Queen’s return to Cincinnati every year. Can’t wait to see her again!