Belle of Louisville Riverboats is named for the three boats in our fleet: the Belle, the Mary M. Miller, and the Mayor Andrew Broaddus, which serves as our wharf boat. Two of these, the Belle and the Broaddus, are National Historic Landmarks. The Broaddus is a 95-year-old former lifesaving station that now hosts our gift shop and offices. It’s the only lifesaving station ever located inland, not by a coast.
One of the many things that make us special is that Belle of Louisville Riverboats cares for 25% of Louisville’s National Historic Landmarks, and one-quarter of those are maritime landmarks—rare for a landlocked state like Kentucky! Out of 2,500 National Historic Landmarks in the U.S., only 250 are maritime, so we have more than our fair share.
Next month, we’ll be taking the Broaddus in to dry dock for repairs, and it’s the perfect time to share the story of its namesake, Mayor Andrew Broaddus.
Andrew was born in 1900 and grew up in Louisville’s Crescent Hill neighborhood. His family owned the Capital Laundry Company, and they were very active in the community, helping build the Crescent Hill Library. Sadly, his youngest brother Mortimer died in a car accident in 1916. Two years later, Andrew joined the Navy during World War I.
After the war, Andrew went to Centre College and married Elizabeth Robinson. They had three kids: Betty, Julia, and Andrew Jr. He became president of his family’s business in 1930 and started getting involved in local government. By 1935, Andrew was serving as Acting Mayor whenever the actual mayor was out of town. His dedication earned him the nickname “Handy Andy” because he was always there when the city needed him. The Courier Journal called him “The fellow who for years now has put aside his own work to undertake actual drudgery for the city and to be the actual ‘Joe’ who sticks his head up above the trench for the snipers… Mr. Broaddus is considered at City Hall to know about more things concerning city’s government than any other individual.”
During World War II, Andrew helped set up community centers for soldiers, and his work became a model for the U.S. Army. In 1953, he ran for Mayor of Louisville, campaigning for equality and fair hiring practices. As mayor, he made important strides toward desegregating the city. He worked to open opportunities for Black citizens, integrated city services like fire departments and parks, and supported integrated housing and education.
Although Andrew only served one term, he left a lasting legacy in the fight for civil rights. He passed away in 1972 and is buried at Cave Hill Cemetery. Our wharf boat, the Mayor Andrew Broaddus, was named in his honor shortly after that.