Belle of Louisville Riverboats provides community access to the river and to Louisville’s history by presenting fun, meaningful and engaging experiences on the water like no one else can. Passengers are encouraged to explore history, the arts and cultural heritage in a way that represents diverse stories and honest experiences. Whether aboard one of our two passenger vessels—the Belle of Louisville or Mary M. Miller—or visiting the Gift Shop aboard our historic wharf boat, the Mayor Andrew Broaddus, you’ll learn about our two National Historic Landmarks, as well as Louisville and the river that made it.
BELLE OF LOUISVILLE
Built
1914, James Reese & Sons Company, Pittsburgh, PA, named Idlewild
Comfort Passenger Capacity
650 – 180 Dining
Specifications
Fully heated and air conditioned • Concession stand and bar • Dance floor • Stage • Full on-board sound system • Indoor and outdoor seating • Non-smoking
MARY M. MILLER
Built
1985 by Marine Builders, Inc. Utica, IN. Originally named Missouri River Queen.
Year-Round Passenger Capacity
350
Specifications
Fully heated and air conditioned • Concession stand and bar • Bandstand • On-board sound system • Non-smoking • 95 gross tons • 90’ length • 30’ breadth • 6.1’ depth
Mayor Andrew Broaddus
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…
5 Ways to Celebrate a Bachelorette on the Belle!
We can’t help noticing the weekend nights when groups line up, dressed to the nines and equipped with veils and sashes. It looks like the secret is out: Belle of Louisville Riverboats is the place to go for one of the most unique bachelorette party experiences you can have in Louisville! Planning a bachelorette party…
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…