"TIMELINE
* 1924 — Construction begins on Delta Queen in Dumbarton, Scotland
* May 1927 — Delta Queen and sister ship Delta King christened
* June 1927 — Both boats begin service between Sacramento and the San Joaquin River Delta
* October 1940 — Delta Queen begins service for the Navy in a variety of roles
* June 1945 — Delta Queen takes newly created United Nations delegates on tour of New York City
* December 1947 — Delta Queen bought by Cincinnati businessman for use on the Mississippi River System
* 1966 — Safety of the Sea law, designed to forbid oceangoing vessels with wooden hulls from carrying overnight passengers, inadvertently affects the Delta Queen
* 1976 — Delta Queen bought by Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of New York
* 1986 — Delta Queen begins sailing out of New Orleans
* 2006 — Majestic America buys Delta Queen, decides not to renew contract with Seafarers Union
* 2007 — Exemption to Safety of the Sea Law not renewed, allegedly blocked by U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar of Minnesota
* 2008 — Delta Queen completes last voyage, docks in Chattanooga for use as a hotel and bar
* 2013 — Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke attempts to evict Delta Queen
* February 2014 — An ice storm cripples the Delta Queen, and the boat stops taking visitors
* June 2014 — A group of investors led by businessman Cornel Martin seals deal to buy boat, return it to duty"
I was lucky to be aboard the Delta Queen in 1975, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, St. Louis and it was truly a trip out of time.
Mostly older folk who sat in rocking chairs watching the shoreline pass by, with card games in the evening, wonderful food, and just a suspension of the cares of the world.
I’m glad for the memories; sorry that the next generation never knew of riverboat tranquility.
Am I to understand that the Delta Queen and Delta King were built in Scotland, crossed the Atlantic, portaged through the Panama Canal, and serviced the West Coast? I am amazed that the ship, with such a low freeboard, could withstand the open ocean.
That is quite a history that I knew little about.
I well remember the Delta Queen docking in Memphis on a fairly regular basis during the early 60s. It was one of two paddle-wheelers that frequented Memphis. The newer boat was the Mississippi Queen.
They were easy for me to spot, as my father’s office was on Front Street.
US Senate decision???
I thought it was the US Coast Guard that had the final say — certify — if ANYTHING was to be cleared to carry passengers.
Anything from a Steamship to a game of Dodgeball, get the Pols involved and it becomes a ClusterFluke
I am surprised to see its sister ship, the King, used for a long time with no controversy and no fanfare. If I had known there was a sister, I would have assumed it was scuttled long ago by lack of hype.
* 2006 — Majestic America buys Delta Queen, decides not to renew contract with Seafarers Union
* 2007 — Exemption to Safety of the Sea Law not renewed, allegedly blocked by U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar of Minnesota.
Golly, that must be a coincidence.