Captain’s Log

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…

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…

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…

 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…

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…

Kids on the Belle, 110 years after it was first launched. The first experience of the Belle for many people is as a child, on a field trip. We love bringing school groups aboard every spring, and watching them look around in wonder. It’s some of their first experience on a boat, and for…

It may look peaceful now, but the Falls of the Ohio were once the most dangerous part of the Ohio River. This stretch consisted of 2.5 miles of whitewater rapids that split river navigation in half. It was the only obstruction in the Ohio River, all the way from Pittsburgh to the Mississippi.   These rapids…

There are so many powerful stories connected to Black Americans in the Ohio River’s history. This February, we wanted to bring some of them to light. Whether connected to the river, steamboats history or our own vessels, here are some of the people we have highlighted this month. York York Statue on the Louisville Belvedere,…

The Belle of Louisville is known fondly as Louisville’s Leading Lady. A showpiece of the city right in the middle of downtown, the Belle has welcomed thousands of visitors every year for most of her 109-year history. With President’s Day around the corner, we got to thinking – with so many illustrious guests aboard the…

There is something magical about the Ohio River. If it were not for the river, our city would not exist where it is. For centuries, it has been both a conduit for travel and exploration and a gathering place. The river provides us all with a unique perspective. We mean this literally: where can you…

This undated photograph shows the Belle during her Idlewild years (1914-1947) wintering on the snowy banks of Alton Slough, IL. A Legacy of Care Built in 1914, the Belle of Louisville is entering her 110th year. Her legacy as the oldest operating Mississippi River-style steamboat in the world is due in no small part to…

It’s that time of year, when the to-do list is long, but holiday cheer is on the horizon. ‘Tis the season of giving, and that always means lots of options. You’re here, so we know you have good taste! Read on to learn more about some of the most unique gifts you can give this…