The COI, or “Shakedown” Cruise
Federal regulation of steamboat safety can trace its very beginnings to 1838, when an act of Congress moved to protect “the lives of passengers on board of vessels propelled in whole or in part by steam.” The Steamboat Inspection Service was officially created in 1871 to address the concerns that many people had regarding the…
our top 10 old boats of note!
The S.S. Skibladner, the oldest operating paddle steamboat in timetabled service. Photo: Wikimedia Commons We often refer to the Belle of Louisville as the world’s oldest operating Mississippi River-style steamboat. We’re in really good company. Authentic steamboats are rare, and there are a few boats that are older or different than us. Let’s meet them! …
A Brief History of Thunder Over Louisville
Thunder Over Louisville 2024. Photograph by crew member Andy Zimlich After a disappointing turn last year, when Thunder Over Louisville was canceled for the first time in its history due to flooding, we are thrilled to have Thunder return as the opening event for the Kentucky Derby Festival in 2026! One of the parts of…
The Belle of Louisville’s Place in Science Fiction
My name is Woods Martin and I am currently a college student. I was born in Louisville, Kentucky in July of 2004. I am currently studying history and political science at Bellarmine University. I am going into my junior year and am also currently interning with the Belle of Louisville Riverboats. Did you know that…
The Belle’s Latest Ghost Story
As told to Heather Funk Gotlib, Outreach Manager If you’re here, you probably know about the steam calliope. It’s a REALLY loud organ-type instrument that steamboats would have back in the day in order to announce their presence before the Internet. They’d start playing when they got close to a destination, and you can hear…
A Letter from the Collection of Chester “Chet” Foster
Photos of Chet from his collection. Courtesy of the family of Chester Foster. At the end of June, Belle of Louisville Riverboats was gifted an album belonging to one of the first engineers of the Belle era, Chester “Chet” Foster. We were so excited to get the chance to digitize this collection, which spanned fifty…
More on the Grand Ole Opry on the Idlewild
Photo: Attendees disembarking from the Idlewild. Courtesy of Grand Ole Opry Archives The Grand Ole Opry on the Belle of Louisville In the summer of 1946, the Grand Ole Opry broadcast their show to over 130 NBC radio stations across the country from the Belle of Louisville – then known as the Idlewild – on…
Hidden History: Music on the Belle of Louisville
Steamboats were a popular place for entertainment throughout the years that they ruled America’s rivers. From the raucous showboats of the 1800s to the floating USO nightclubs of the World War II era, one of the best options for live music was on the water. The Belle of Louisville (and the Mary M. Miller) were…
Breaking Barriers at the Belle: An Oral History with Kadie Engstrom
Last month, the Belle of Louisville Riverboats began recording a new oral history collection from long-standing staff members and veterans of the boats. You may know Kadie Engstrom from her fantastic narration on history cruises, or perhaps you remember her from a school visit as an educator! Kadie has worked with the Belle of Louisville…
Who Built the Belle? The Story of James Rees and Sons
In 1914, the West Memphis Packet Company commissioned the Idlewild. They had selected the best company in the United States to build the ferryboat they planned to use to transport people and goods across the Mississippi, James Rees and Sons of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Anyone who has been on the Belle has heard this much, but…