We list paddlewheel boats, steamboats, Mark Twain-like excursion boats, and excursion boats that take you to see paddlewheel boats. We also list museums that house special boat exhibits.
Webmaster's disclaimer: The links on this page were last updated 11/30/2020. Boats move; typos happen. If you plan a visit, please confirm the boat's location, hours of operation, and whether reservations are required. The green and blue buttons are as accurate as possible, but not guaranteed. If you find the boat of your dreams, please tell them Steamboats.com sent you!
Key
Boat was built to be powered by steam.
The boat is open to the public as of latest updates.
Licensed to offer public cruises. Some are charter only, so always make arrangements ahead of time.
Paddle wheel, either stern, side wheel, or split wheel.
Onboard sleeping accommodations. Note that all boats have hotels nearby; some are associated with a hotel.
Historic boat, at or close to old enough to be an antique.
Deceased.
Alabama
Harriott II Riverboat historic 19th century paddlewheel boat giving tours, hosting events out of the Downtown Montgomery riverfront.
Cotton Blossom historic sternwheeler built in 1928, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. Privately owned, located in Tuscaloosa. This is not the MGM prop boat in the "Show Boat" movies, nor is it the original Cotton Blossom Showboat. The original Cotton Blossom Showboat, like all showboats, was built on a barge and pushed by towboat.
U.S. Snagboat Montgomery historic steam powered sternwheeler was used to clear snags from the river. Now it is a national historic landmark open to visitors in the Tom Bevill Visitor Center in Carrollton, thirty five miles west of Tuscaloosa.
Bama Belle sternwheeler offers cruises out of Tuscaloosa.
Wilma K sternwheeler out of Creola (forty miles north of Mobile). Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Rooney private sternwheeler out of Riverton. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Wilma K private sternwheeler out of Creola. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Alaska
S.S. Nenana sternwheeler includes a museum but is closed. This boat needs supporters because the Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation Department is going back on its obligation to preserve the boat. Built in 1933, declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989. Beloved by many, based in Pioneer Park, Fairbanks.
Alaska Queen sternwheeler offers history cruises in Ketchikan. (website offline)
Riverboat Discovery * Riverboat Discovery II * Riverboat Discovery III three sternwheelers offers cruises on the Chena and Tanana Rivers, out of Fairbanks.
Arizona
Dixie Belle sternwheeler offers cruises on Lake Havasu (northwest Arizona), including the London Bridge. Official site to book tours:
click here.
Colorado King sternwheeler offers cruises on the Colorado River, out of Yuma.
Desert Belle sternwheeler offers public cruises on Saguaro Lake (northeast of Phoenix, just north of Mesa and Apache Junction).
See photos at this website - click here.
Dolly Steamboat sternwheeler offers cruises on Canyon Lake (northeast of Phoenix, just outside of Apache Junction, a thirty-five mile drive from the Desert Belle - see two boats in one trip).
See photos at this website - click here.
Canyon King The Canyon King at Lake Powell has been retired and is now tied up at the dock and is a restaurant. It Is owned by Aramark Corp. which runs Wahweap Bay Marina for the State.
Arkansas
Arkansas Queen sternwheeler offers cruises on the Arkansas River, out of North Little Rock. Docked at the Inland Maritime Center, next to the USS Razorback submarine.
Mary Woods No. 2 restored sternwheeler that once worked the White River, now a museum in
Jacksonport State Park (ninety-five miles northeast of Little Rock).
Ouachita Bell private sternwheeler out of El Dorado. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
California
Scarlett Belle sternwheeler gives chartered cruises for weddings, events; check website for wine tasting cruises. Located in Oxnard Channel Islands Harbor.
Miss Liberty sternwheeler gives tours of Big Bear Lake, out of Pine Knot Marina.
Eppleton Hall side wheel tug boat built in 1914 in England; brought to San Francisco through the Panama Canal in 1969-70. See it in San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.
Ferryboat Eureka side wheel ferry boat built in 1890, restored in 1994 and 1994. Last working example of a walking beam engine, see it in San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.
Steam Ferry Berkeley * Steam Yacht Medea A 1898 steam ferryboat from San Francisco Bay is a California State Historic Landmark, and a National Historic Landmark. The boat is now in San Diego as part of the San Diego Maritime Museum. They also have the Steam Yacht Medea, a one hundred year old vessel built of oak, teak and steel.
Arrowhead Queen sternwheeler offers cruises on Lake Arrowhead (east of Los Angeles). See photos at this site:
click here.
Bahai Belle * William D. Evans sternwheelers offer cruises on Mission Bay (north San Diego).
Delta King sternwheeler, sister ship of the Delta Queen, is lovingly restored as a hotel, restaurant, convention and events center, and mystery theater in Old Town Sacramento (no engines).
Matthew McKinley spotted (summer 2020) docked at a marina on the Threemile Slough, where the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers merge, sixty miles east of San Francisco Bay.
Island Girl sternwheeler used to be in Old Town Sacramento, but is now in Stockton.
Clear Lake Queen near Lucerne, unknown website, see photo:
click here
The Grand Romance sternwheeler offers cruises and
Mystery Theater in Rainbow Harbor, Long Beach.
Delta Queen Car Wash this is not a boat, but a car wash that looks like a sternwheeler! Watch for it in Campbell, California, up there by San Jose.
M.S. Dixie II * Tahoe Queen sternwheelers offer cruises on Lake Tahoe (near the boarder of Nevada and California).
Mark Twain Riverboat Frontierland sternwheeler, Disneyland (Anaheim).
Reuben E. Lee iconic Newport Beach landmark dismantled in 2013. Media coverage: latimes.com | ocregister.com | youtube.com
Spirit of Sacramento sternwheeler - former Old Town Sacramento landmark, formerly the Becky Thatcher based in Cincinnati. The boat traveled under its own power through the Panama Canal to California in 1997. Now gone.
Colorado
New Liberty Belle no website - associated with Water Valley Resort Residential Community, Windsor.
Prairie Princess II no website - may have moved to Oregon.
Connecticut
Steamboat Sabino formally designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992, this historic coal-fired steamboats gives cruises on the Mystic River mid-May through Columbus Day. The steamboat Sabino was built in Maine in 1908 for passenger service on the Damariscotta River. Read about the boat's recent restoration:
mysticseaport.org.
Jubilee private sternwheeler, homeport Bantam Lake, Morris (thirty-three miles west of Hartford).
Delaware
Lady Anne steam launch, home port Assawoman Bay in Fenwick Island (no wheel, private vessel, steam powered).
District of Columbia
SS United States Conservancy historic steamship will undergo restoration.
Florida
Dora Queen formerly The Contessa, is powered by two 250 horsepower engines and has the capacity for 70 passengers. Commissioned and built by Robbie Cunningham at Trident Pontoons in Tavares, Florida, the construction of the vessel took over two years. Tours out of Tavares, north of Orlando.
Indian River Queen, sternwheeler, Cocoa Village Marina, Cocoa, Florida, offers cruises and private events.
Costa River Queen, sternwheeler, DeLeon, Florida, offers cruises, including overnight trips.
Jungle Queen sternwheeler offers sight seeing and dinner cruises out of Fort Lauderdale.
Rivership Barbara-Lee split-wheel sternwheeler gives cruises out of downtown Sanford.
Beresford Lady side wheeler offers cruises on the historic St. Johns River, out of Deland (twenty miles southwest of Daytona Beach) Article explains that the boat was destroyed in a hurricane in 2007.
Sara Grace * Jean Mary sternwheelers offer cruises on the San Sebastian River, out of St. Augustine.
Mark Twain Riverboat Frontierland sternwheeler, Disney World (Orlando).
Retta private sternwheeler out of Key Largo. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Georgia
Scarlett O'Hara * Henry W. Grady a side wheel and stern wheel duo offer cruises out of Stone Mountain Park. Use this address to map: 1000 Robert E Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Savannah Queen *
Georgia Queen sternwheelers offer cruises of Savannah Harbor, out of Savannah.
Hawaii
Hawaii, I get the strong tides that whip around your islands, but can't you find a two foot deep puddle to float a paddle wheel boat?
Idaho
Hey Idaho, send some boats for our list! You are one of only a few states with no paddle wheel boats!
Illinois
Celebration Belle sternwheeler offers cruises out of LeClaire, Dubuque, and Muscatine, Iowa; based in Moline.
St. Mary's Challenger built in 1906, this is the oldest lake boat still trading on the Great Lakes. Not open to the public; still in operation.
Belle of the Rock Public cruises to see the rock in Starved Rock State Park, out of Utica.
LaSalle Canal Boat A mule pulls this full-size replica canal boat on a historic, hand-dug waterway that pioneers traveled in the 1800s. Ninety miles southwest of Chicago. No wheel, but it sounds like a great experience.
Tennessee Belle sternwheeler last located in Savanna. (Last seen listed on AmericanSternwheel.org; current location, website unknown.) Was known as the Delta Dawn from 1975 until 2003.
Sunshine private sternwheeler out of Beardstown. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Joseph M. LaBarge private sternwheeler on the Missouri River (home port unknown). Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Indiana
Dixieboat sternwheeler offers cruises Webster Lake, North Webster (a hundred and thirty-four miles southeast of Chicago).
Rafter Clyde II a private paddle wheeler now docked in Aurora. Listed on americansternwheel.org. More photos at this site - click here.
Rising Star Casino gambling casino is on a sternwheeler boat.
Iowa
George M. Verity Built in 1927 as the SS Thorpe, she is a National Historic Landmark, and one of only three surviving steam-powered towboats in the US. You can see her at the George M. Verity Riverboat Museum in Keokuk, Iowa. Photos at this site
Steamboat Museum
Lady of the Lakes sternwheeler offers cruises (including private cruises) on Clear Lake, a hundred miles north of Des Moines. The Lady has worked through summer and fall every year since relocating from the Missouri River in 1987.
Sergeant Floyd a decommissioned, inspection boat of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, is now a museum that welcomes visitors, and serves Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota as a research center.
Pearl Button paddle wheeler gives scenic cruises in Muscatine, thirty miles west of Davenport. Formerly the Andiamo in Minnesota.
Riverboat Twilight sternwheeler offers overnight cruises on the Mississippi River, traveling from Dubuque to Le Claire. Company is based in Scales Mound, Illinois (twenty-five miles east of Dubuque).
Lonestar historic, restored sternwheeler steamboat, a project of the Buffalo Bill Museum, is open to the public, located on the Mississippi River at Le Claire (fourteen miles east of Davenport).
William M. Black restored side wheeler now serves as a bed and breakfast in Dubuque. A project of the Mississippi River National Museum. See exhibit at this site:
click here.
Lilly Belle historic sternwheeler docked at the Mississippi River National Museum, Dubuque (website, status unknown).
Spirit of Dubuque sternwheeler offers cruises on the Mississippi River out of Dubuque.
Bertrand this ship sank in 1865, excavation began in 1968, and the artifact collection is housed in a museum located at the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, north of Council Bluffs, and just west of Missouri Valley.
Mississippi Explorer Scheduled and charter eco cruises aboard the Mississippi Explorer from the ports of La Crosse, Wisconsin, Lansing, Iowa, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and Galena, Illinois [also see listing under Wisconsin].
M.V. Picket Hastings sternwheeler out of Savanna, Illinois or Dubuque, Iowa, depending on the mood of the Captain. Captain further points out: "Boat incorporates very large (21x40) foredeck to accommodate companion seaplane, making this the ASA's only aircraft carrier." Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Pickett Hastings private sternwheeler out of Dubuque. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Kansas
Georgia Mae private sternwheeler out of Kansas City. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Kansas has additional paddle wheelers on the state line with Missouri.
Kentucky
Spirit of Cincinnati - three boats, including the Spirit of Cincinnati, offer concert cruises, public cruises, and events out of Dayton, Kentucky.
Belle of Cincinnati * River Queen * Mark Twain three sternwheelers offer cruises on the Ohio River out of Waterfront Park in downtown Louisville. BB Riverboats is based in Newport, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati.
Belle of Louisville much-loved historic sternwheeler offers cruises on the Ohio River, out of Louisville.
Mary M. Miller built in 1985, this dreamboat is named after Mary Millicent Miller, the first woman to be licensed as a steamboat captain (1884). The vessel is previously known as Missouri River Queen and Georgia Queen. No relation to the Georgia Queen in Savannah!)
USS Nightmare.com America's premier Haunted Steamboat, open mid-September through November 1. The side wheeler was formerly known as the William S. Mitchell, and had a distinguished career dredging rivers for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1934 to 1986. Located in Newport, across the river from Cincinnati.
Dixie Belle sternwheeler offers cruises along the Kentucky River palisades, a stretch of river with limestone cliffs. Associated with Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg (twenty-five miles southwest of Lexington).
Mike Fink historic sternwheeler offers cruises on the Ohio River, out of Covington. This boat is on the National Historic Register of Buildings and Places. Temporarily closed for renovations.
Louisiana
American Countess Formerly known as the Kanesville Queen, this boat now offers cruises out of New Orleans.
City of New Orleans sternwheeler owned by New Orleans Steamboat Company will be the sisterboat to the Natchez when she's christened. Originally built in 1991 as the Casino Rock Island. Also on
Facebook!
Creole Queen sternwheeler offers cruises from the New Orleans waterfront. Also includes Jean Lafitte Swamp and Airboat Tours.
Magnolia Belle sternwheeler offers cruises on Lake Pontchartrain, out of New Orleans. Recently moved from Cape Canaveral; featured in the 1993 film, "The Adventures of Huck Finn." May have moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, location, website unknown.
Queen of the Mississippi and American Eagle modern sternwheelers offer cruises on the Mississippi River system.
Steamboat Natchez steam powered sternwheeler launched in 1975 offers cruises out of New Orleans.
Creole Queen sternwheeler offers cruises on the Mississippi River out of New Orleans.
Legacy Cruiser private sternwheeler out of Houma. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Liberty private sternwheeler out of Houma. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Steamboat Mississippi Queen the late sister ship of the Delta Queen and American Queen, cruelly destroyed and dismantled due to former owners Majestic American Line and Ambassadors International, during their bankruptcy in 2010. Find more information (at this site): Mississippi Queen.
Maine
Songo River Queen sternwheeler offers cruises on the Songo River, out of Naples (thirty miles northwest of Portland).
Steamboat Katahdin offers daily public cruises on Moosehead Lake, in Greenville, from late June to mid-October. This is possible because a few years ago a group of citizens came together to donate The Kate to Moosehead Marine Museum, where she was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Maryland
Lantern Queen sternwheeler offers cruises on the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay, out of Havre de Grace (thirty-five miles northeast of Baltimore). More photos, click here.
The Black-Eyed Susan sternwheeler offers cruises of Northwest Harbor, departing from the Broadway Pier, Fells Point, Baltimore. Formerly known as Henrietta II in Wilmington, North Carolina.
S.T. Baltimore restoration in progress of a historic steam powered tug boat built in 1906. It was sunken from 1979 to 1981, and is currently being restored.
The Dorothy & Megan * Choptank River Queen two split wheel sternwheelers offer cruises on the Choptank River, based at the Suicide Bridge Restaurant & Choptank Riverboat Company, in Hurlock (fourteen miles northeast of Cambridge).
Massachusetts
Samuel Clemens * Seaport Belle Massachusetts Bay Lines offers cruises on five boats out of Rowes Wharf, Downtown Boston. Two of the vessels resemble traditional Mark Twain-style riverboats.
Michigan
Grand Lady Riverboat Offers scenic cruises, live music, and special events. Located just west of Grand Rapids, next to Riverview Airport.
S.S. Badger North America's last coal-fired steamboat operates on Lake Michigan, out of Ludington. Staterooms available, many trips to choose from. You can bring your car, boat, or RV onboard for an additional fee.
Steamer Ste. Claire This maritime treasure is currently docked at the US Steel dock in Ecorse, Michigan, where the restoration is being performed. She is not open to the public as she is undergoing the most extensive restoration since her build in 1910. The boat will be open soon. (Loud soundtrack at this website.)
Michigan Princess Riverboat sternwheeler offers cruises on the Grand River, based in Lansing.
Detroit Princess Riverboat sternwheeler offers cruises on the Detroit River, including skyline views of Detroit and Windsor.
Bavarian Belle sternwheeler offers cruises, based in Frankenmuth (thirty miles north of Flint).
Genesee Belle sternwheeler offers cruises on Mott Lake, a project of the Genesee County Parks.
Minnesota
Steamboat Minnehaha authentic restored steam vessel gives cruises on Lake Minnetonka.
Chester Charles II 1948 flat bottom riverboat offers naturalist narrated tours on Lake Itasca, the source of the Great Mississippi River.
Pearl of the Lake sternwheeler gives cruises on the Mississippi River out of Lake City (seventy miles southeast of Minneapolis).
Breezy Belle stern wheel excursion boat gives cruises on Pelican Lake out of Breezy Point (eighty miles southwest of Grand Rapids).
Jonathan Padleford * Anson Northrup * Minnesota Centennial Show Boat Padleford Riverboats Mississippi River Rides - Minneapolis and St.Paul's Flagship Riverboat Company
Magnolia Blossom out of St. Paul.
Covington Inn Bed and Breakfast sleep over on a lil steamboat, St. Paul.
Minneapolis Queen Departing from Boom Island Park on the Mississippi River, Twin Cities Cruises.
Avalon * Empress * Showboat * Anastasia St. Croix Boat and Packet Company, Stillwater, thirty miles east of Minneapolis. Anastasia formerly known as the Dottie G., out of Alton (thirty miles north of St. Louis) now in in Stillwater, MN as part of Stillwater River Boats' fleet.
Mississippi
Betsy Ann Riverboat sternwheeler offers cruises and mystery theater; moved from Wetumpka, Alabama in 2005, to Panama City, Florida, and now in Biloxi. This is the only paddlewheel riverboat in Mississippi! At least there's one now!
Missouri
Lake Queen sternwheeler offers cruises along the shores of Lake Taneycomo, out of Branson.
Steamboat Arabia museum showing the excavation of a side wheeler that sunk on the Missouri River in 1856. Parts of the boat and its cargo are on display; full-sized replica of main deck and twenty-eight-foot side wheel. Located in Kansas City.
Showboat Branson Belle split sternwheeler offers cruises on Table Rock Lake, out of Branson.
Mark Twain Riverboat sternwheeler offers cruises on the Mississippi River, out of Hannibal.
Montana
Come on Montana! Have you no decency? You have no paddle wheelers listed!
Nebraska
River City Star Mark Twain-like excursion boat offers cruises out of Omaha, a feature of the city's riverfront development (no wheel). See Nori's photos of this boat -
click here.
Captain Meriwether Lewis historic side wheeler, which operated as a dustpan dredge for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers until 1969. Now in a museum at Brownsville.
Nevada
Fiesta Queen * Celebration two side wheelers offer cruises, based at the riverfront in Laughlin (simulated wheels).
Colorado Belle a building that looks like a paddlewheel steamboat in Laughlin. coloradobelle.com See Nori's photos of the Belle - click here.
Desert Princess sternwheeler offers cruises on Lake Mead (forty miles east of Las Vegas).
M.S. Dixie II * Tahoe Queen two sternwheelers offer cruises on Lake Tahoe, on the boarder of Nevada and California. Also listed under California.
New Hampshire
The Winnipesaukee Belle sternwheeler offers cruises, based at the Wolfeboro Inn, Wolfeboro (sixty-five miles west of Portland, Maine).
New Jersey
SPLASH Steamboat * A floating classroom with a paddlewheel and steam engines. You can find it in Lambertville.
River Lady sternwheeler offers cruises on the Toms River and Barnegat Bay (sixty-five miles south of Newark on the Jersey Coast).
Belle Miracle Ann private sternwheeler based in Egg Harbor Township; built in 1925, previous names include Kanawha, Belle Carol, Zachary Taylor, and Tarian Rose. The boat was beached during Hurricane Sandy, but repairs were made and the boat is back in the water.
New York
Liberty * sternwheeler formerly known as Riverboat Spirit of Jefferson from Louisville, now moved to the Village of Dobbs Ferry. No news yet on when cruises will begin.
The Canandaigua Lady sternwheeler offers cruises on Canandaigua Lake, based in Canandaigua (twenty-eight miles south of Rochester).
Chautauqua Belle steam powered sternwheeler offers cruises on Chautauqua Lake, based in Mayville (seventy-three miles southwest of Buffalo).
Mohican * Minne-ha-ha two sternwheelers run by Lake Georges Steamboats offer cruises out of Lake George (sixty miles north of Albany).
Paddle Wheel Queen sternwheeler offers cruise out of New York Harbor, Manhattan.
S.S. Columbia historic steamship undergoing renovations to open as a public space on the Hudson River.
Stillwater private sternwheeler out of Onoville. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
New Mexico
Looking for steamboats in all the wrong places . . .
North Carolina
Henrietta III sternwheeler offers cruises from Water & Dock Streets in Wilmington.
Jungle Princess excursion boat (no wheel) offers cruises on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and Waccamaw River, out of Myrtle Beach. (Also listed under South Carolina.)
North Dakota
Yellowstone a sixty-foot replica of the historic Steamship Yellowstone, is part of the Missouri River walking trail, Steamboat Park, Bismarck (unknown website, status).
North Dakota - this is your only paddlewheel boat listed! Please find more!! Get on it.
Good news! We heard from Ray (1/2/2018), who lives in North Dakota. He said: "There was the steamboat, the Minne H, that was on Devils lake - went to Fort Totten and back to Devils Lake - also there was a mail packet boat." We knew there were more steamboats up there and this confirms it! We need to hear from people to list all the boats - we can't do this by ESP!
Ohio
Show Boat Majestic historic riverboat moored on the Ohio River (Manchester or New Richmond), built in 1923, declared a National Historic Landmark on December 20, 1989. In good condition thanks to owner David Dulaney.
W.P. Snyder Jr. historic steam-powered "pool-type" stern wheel towboat. The boat is part of the Ohio River Museum; also visit the W.P. Snyder Jr. restoration blog.
Standard fully operational historic stern wheel towboat and National Historic Landmark. Now based in Bellaire, OH. Formerly named the Barbara H., based in Indiana, owned for many years by Steve Huffman.
Belle of Cincinnati* River Queen * Mark Twain see listing in Kentucky for BB Riverboats.
Valley Gem Riverboat sternwheeler offers cruises on the Ohio River, out of Marietta.
Cherokee ninety foot sternwheeler, home port on the Ohio River near Minersville. Family excursion boat built over a three year period (1974-1977). (Last seen listed on AmericanSternwheel.org; current location, website unknown.)
Gambler forty-five foot sternwheeler built entirely by the Morton family, travels widely; home port Rayland (ten miles north of Wheeling, WV). Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Nora Jean forty-six foot sternwheeler built in 1981, home port Devola, OH at Mile 5 on the Muskingum River; excursion boat for family and friends. (Last seen listed on AmericanSternwheel.org; current location, website unknown.)
Crystal Rose sternwheeler out of Eagleport (seventy-five miles east of Columbus); formerly known as the Mary Isabel. (Last seen listed on AmericanSternwheel.org; current location, website unknown.)
Sally sternwheeler out of Sardis (forty miles north east of Marietta); currently undergoing renovation. (Last seen listed on AmericanSternwheel.org; current location, website unknown.)
Lauren Elizabeth private sternwheeler out of East Liverpool. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Octavia B trawler, private bout out of Miller. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Port Explorer private sternwheeler out of South Point. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Sewickley private sternwheeler out of Bellaire. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Hubba's Pride private sternwheeler out of Saint Louisville. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
IvaRuby private sternwheeler out of Portland. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Jenny B private sternwheeler out of Rayland. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Centennial private sternwheeler out of Belpre. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Faris Wheel private sternwheeler out of Gallipolis. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Franky D private sternwheeler out of Rayland. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Valley Gem private sternwheeler out of Marietta. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Oklahoma
Cherokee Queen sternwheeler offers cruises on the Grand Lake O the Cherokees, out of Grove (ninety miles northeast of Tulsa).
Oregon
American Empress stern wheel excursion boat out of Portland, offering overnight cruises on the Snake and and Columbia Rivers. Formerly named Empress of the North, and operating in Alaska, the boat changed hands January 17, 2014, and is now owned by the American Queen Company of Memphis. The christening and first cruise will be April 5, 2014.
Steam Tug Portland historic steam driven stern wheel tug boat out of Portland Maritime Museum. Click on "exhibits" Str. Portland.
Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler triple decker sternwheeler gives history cruises; board from Marine Park at Cascade Locks, in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
Newport Belle fully operational sternwheeler is a bed & breakfast on the Oregon coast. (See Nori's photos, click here.)
Willamette Queen sternwheeler offers cruises of the Willamette River, out of Riverfront Park, Salem. Another link for this boat: http://oregonlink.com/riverboat/ See Nori's photos of this boat, click here.
Queen of the West sternwheeler; overnight cruises on the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
Steamboat Jean historic steam towboat (no wheel), listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was moored on the Snake River in Hells Gate State Park, Lewiston (a hundred miles south of Spokane, Washington). Now it appears that somebody towed this historic vessel to Portland; sadly, it appears she has been gutted and turned into a barge.
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Belle Formerly known as the Mississippi Belle, docked in Bettendorf, Iowa (five miles east of Davenport). Currently currently undergoing a five-year inspection at the Walker Boat Yard in Paducah, Ky. Will return to service later.
Pride of the Susquehanna sternwheeler gives public and chartered cruises on the Susquehanna River, out of Harrisburg. The boat is also home to the River School, a floating classroom.
Fulton Steamboat Inn overnight accommodations on a retired sternwheeler in beautiful Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Lancaster.
Sternwheeler Barbara J no website found - sternwheeler offers cruises on Conneaut Lake (a hundred miles north of Pittsburgh). Call (814) 382-7433 for information.
Liberty Belle sternwheeler offers cruises on the Delaware River, out of Burlington.
The Majestic * The Empress * the Princess * The Duchess * The Countess three sternwheelers, a side wheeler, and a showboat on a barge pushed by a towboat make up the Gateway Clipper Fleet. These boats offer cruises on the Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio Rivers, out of Pittsburgh. City skylines and natural beauty.
E.L. Thumper sternwheeler on the Allegheny River in Millvale (two miles north of Pittsburgh). Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Katie H private sternwheeler out of Millvale. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Betty Lou private sternwheeler out of Georgetown. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Fulton Steamboat Inn a landlocked hotel designed to look like a steamboat, named in honor of Fulton who was born in the same County.
Rhode Island
Up until now we couldn't find a paddlewheel steamboat in Rhode Island.
Great news - Rhode Island once had a paddle wheeler named the "City of Newport." All that remains is a painting of her in New York Harbor in 1865, by William Davis. This painting was for sale in the Roger King Fine Arts Gallery in Newport.
Rhode Island, you need a real boat. If someone buys that painting - that's all you've got! (too late - it sold)
South Carolina
Spirit of Low Country this sidewheel boat, designed by Capt. Alan L. Bates, built in 1986 as the River Queen, now giving scenic tours of Charleston.
Jungle Princess excursion boat (no wheel) offers cruises on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and Waccamaw River, out of Myrtle Beach. (Also listed under North Carolina.)
Miss Magdalena private sternwheeler out of Lake Wateree. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
South Dakota
South Dakota: I know it gets cold there, but you must have a steamboat somewhere . . . please look around.
Tennessee
Steamboat American Queen offers overnight cruises to New Orleans, St. Louis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Louisville, and Chattanooga. Based in Memphis.
Southern Belle sternwheeler offers dinner cruises, chartered cruises, out of Chattanooga. See more photos at this site:
Southern Belle.
General Jackson stern wheel showboat offers entertainment and meals while cruising the Cumberland River in Nashville.
Delta Queen National Historic Landmark, passenger stern wheel cruise ship, currently undergoing repairs in Houma, Louisiana.
Chattanooga Star educational field trips for students (operations temporarily suspended, status unknown).
Island Queen * Memphis Queen II * Memphis Queen III * Memphis Showboat two sternwheelers, an excursion boat, and a showboat offer river cruises on the Mississippi River, out of Memphis. [Webmaster's Note: This website worked best with Firefox.]
The Star of Knoxville three hundred passenger split sternwheeler offers cruises on the Tennessee River, out of downtown Knoxville.
Winnie Mae private sternwheeler out of Pickwick Lake, Tennessee River. Purchased in December 2015 from Jay Schaffner by Sam Evans and moved from Pittsburg. She is a Dravo built boat, 1936, Sternwheeler. Same owners and location as Columbia (see next entry).
Columbia private sternwheeler out of Pickwick Lake, Tennessee River. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
The Star private sternwheeler out of Knoxville. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Texas
Colonel Paddlewheel Boat replica 1800-style paddle wheeler offers cruises out of Offatts Bayou in Galveston.
Graceful Ghost authentic wood-fired sternwheeler offers cruises on Caddo Lake, near the Texas-Arkansas-Louisiana border.
Spirit of Texas Paddlewheeler sternwheeler offers cruises out of Clear Lake and Galveston Bay (south of Houston).
Southern Empress sternwheeler offers cruises, docked at the Sunset Harbor Resort at Seven Coves, Willis (north of Houston).
Utah
Aw come on, Utah. I think you have paddlewheel boats up there, but you are hiding them! :-)
Cliff Dweller - one of our visitors sent us this one, but all that remains is a model of the boat. *
Utah - please go shopping for another paddlewheel boat. You need one for sure.
Vermont
Str. Ticonderoga retired paddle wheeler historic 220 foot side wheeler, lovingly restored and preserved at the Shelburne Museum (between Charlotte and Burlington), welcomes visitors. A National Historic Landmark built in Shelburne in 1906; operated on Lake Champlain until 1953.
Virginia
Potomac Pilothouse the Steamboat Era Museum is restoring the pilot house of a 1984 steamboat (no wheel). The Potomac pilothouse is the largest remaining relic of the once-grand fleet of Chesapeake Bay steamboats. Museum is located in Irvington (driving distance from D.C., Richmond, and Norfolk).
Washington
Swiftsure heritage vessel and museum ship first launched in 1904. Located on Lake Union, Northwest Seaport, Seattle.
W.T. Preston Snagboat historic sternwheeler serves as a reminder of Puget Sound maritime history. Now located at the City of Anacortes History Museum.
Liberty Belle small steam launch (no wheel) offers cruises out of La Conner (sixty-five miles north of Seattle).
Christine W. sternwheeler offers cruises on Lake Union, out of Fisherman's Terminal, Seattle.
Stern Wheeler Banjo no website, a paddlewheel boat docked in Seattle.
S.S. Virginia V historic steamboat built in 1922 is the last of the famous Mosquito Fleet. Lovingly restored, offers cruises in Puget Sound, based in Seattle (no wheel).
The KevLin private dual sternwheel house boat on Lake Union. As seen in some of the shots of Lake Union on HGTV's House Hunters houseboat episode. Here's another photo of the KevLin Seattle PI.
West Virginia
Mountaineer Star (formerly the Tunica Queen) traveled 1,274 miles - over the course of 15 days - from Memphis, TN, to the Monongahela River where she will undergo a full renovation.
Roy C private stern wheeler travels the Ohio, Muskingum, and Kanawha rivers. Owners Hoyt and Wink Fontalbert welcome visitors aboard for tours. Based in Marmet (twelve miles SE of Charleston). Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Rufus B II sternwheeler in St. Albans (twelve miles west of Charleston). Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Juanita sternwheeler on the Kanawha River at Dunbar (seven miles west of Charleston). Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Donna Rae sternwheeler out of Charleston. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Hobby III based in Nitro (fourteen miles northwest of Charleston). Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Spirit of South Charleston private sternwheeler on the Kanawha River, out of South Charleston (five miles west of Charleston) (Last seen listed on AmericanSternwheel.org; current location, website unknown.)
Miss Lona sternwheeler home port Charleston. (Last seen listed on AmericanSternwheel.org; current location, website unknown.)
Fancy Nancy sternwheeler out of Charleston. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
P.A. Denny historic sternwheeler, based in Charleston. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Miss Sterling private vessel, based in Dunbar (five miles NW of Charleston). Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Henny Cook private sternwheeler out of Nitro. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Dixie private sternwheeler out of Little Kanawha Parkersburg. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Dresden Belle private sternwheeler out of St. Albans. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Kanawha Sternwheel private sternwheeler out of Nitro. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Lady Carmina private sternwheeler out of Glen Dale. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Lady Lois private sternwheeler out of Port Amherst. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Lakie Marie private sternwheeler out of Nitro. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Laura J private sternwheeler out of Port Amherst. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Lida Ann private side wheeler out of Charleston. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Major private sternwheeler out of Port Amherst. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Momma Jeanne private sternwheeler out of Port Amherst. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Morning Glory private sternwheeler out of New Martinsville. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
PA Denny private sternwheeler out of Parkersburg. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Pearl Anne private sternwheeler out of Dunbar. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Pile Inn simulated side wheeler out of Dunbar. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Princess Margy private sternwheeler out of Dunbar. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Sea Horse trawler out of Dunbar. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Standard private sternwheeler out of Wheeling. Listed on americansternwheel.org.
Wisconsin
Julia Belle Swain steam powered sternwheeler is undergoing restoration. Home port is Riverside Park, La Crosse, but it is unknown where the boat will go once it's restored. juliabelleswainfoundation.org.
Spirit of Peoria historic sternwheeler currently undergoing renovations. Home port is Peoria, Illinois, but it is unknown where the boat will go once it's restored..
Mississippi Explorer Scheduled and charter eco cruises aboard the Mississippi Explorer from the ports of La Crosse, Wisconsin, Lansing, Iowa, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and Galena, Illinois. No paddlewheel, but get your up-close wildlife on the backwaters of the Mississippi River.
Chief Waupaca * Lady of the Lakes sternwheeler and motor yacht give cruises on the Chain O' Lakes, out of Waupaca (seventy miles west of Green Bay). Chief Waupaca is a historic vessel.
La Crosse Queen sternwheeler offers Mississippi River cruises out of La Crosse.
Dells Boat Tours excursion boat (no wheel) offers cruises on the Wisconsin River, based in Wisconsin Dells (sixty miles north of Madison).
PrincessKay.com sternwheeler offers cruises in the Wisconsin Dells, Port of River Bay.
Apollo II an exact replica of the 1898 Steamship Apollo on the Wisconsin Dells.
Mr. Pancake Restaurant Not a real boat, but a building designed to look like a sternwheeler.
Wyoming
Dear Wyoming, you are our last holdout. We need to have a heart-to-heart talk. People of all persuasions love a scenic boat ride and the splashing of the paddlewheel makes it a memorable experience. If you have a lake up there, please put a paddle wheeler on it and send me a link!
Corrections, additions, and broken link reports welcome! These links do not update themselves! If you know of any boats that should be listed here, please send us the URL: contact info. Our thanks to the steamboat community for sending these boat links!
ARTICLE about this page: Steamboats Round the Bend, by Nori Muster, Editor of Steamboats.com (April 3, 2009)
While numerous paddle wheelers grace our big cities, most of our nation's sweetheart boats are tucked away on small waterways miles from anywhere. For example, you can ride the Dixie Belle under the London Bridge in Lake Havasu, Arizona, half way between Phoenix and Las Vegas. You can drive a hundred and thirty-four miles southeast of Chicago to Webster Lake, Indiana, to catch a ride on the Dixieboat. You can go for an overnight cruise on the Riverboat Twilight in Scales Mound, Illinois, twenty-five miles east of Dubuque. There may be a paddle wheeler near you, or hidden along the route of your next driving vacation.
Read the whole article: Cruisemates.com.
TESTIMONIAL about this page:
On Nov 28, 2011, at 7:03 AM, STM wrote:
Nori,
This message, although long overdue, is to let you know how helpful your "Steamboats of the 50 States" web page was for us this summer. Using it along with what we already knew, we drove up the Great River Road from Cordova, Illinois and were able to ride on the LaCrosse Queen, Pearl of the Lake, Taylor's Falls Princess, Taylor's Falls Queen (of course I had to ride on a boat named "Taylor," the Avalon and Empress in Stillwater, Minneapolis Queen, and the Betsy Northrup. Unfortunately the Betsy Northrup was the only boat available for the time frame we had. We'll have to catch the other boats in the Paddleford fleet on a return trip.
Our drive trips were shorter than planned and we were not able to visit the headwaters of the Mississippi and another boat northwest of the Twin Cities. But there's still another year!
One of the most fascinating things was our stay on the Covington Inn in St. Paul. Liz Miller, the innkeeper, is fantastic. We look forward to a return trip—perhaps when we "chase" the American Queen next year.
Anyway, thanks for compiling the site that was so very helpful to us.
Do you have any trips planned on either the American Queen or the Queen of the Mississippi next year?
Suzanne
