Belle of Louisville

Belle of Louisville is a steamboat owned and operated by the city of Louisville, Kentucky, and moored at its downtown wharf next to the Riverfront Plaza/Belvedere during its annual operational period. The steamboat claims itself the "most widely traveled river steamboat in American history." Belle of Louisvilles offices are aboard Mayor Andrew Broaddus, and also appears on the list of National Historic Landmarks.

History

Idlewild

Originally named Idlewild, the Belle of Louisville was built by James Rees & Sons Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the West Memphis Packet Company in 1914. She initially operated as a passenger ferry between Memphis, Tennessee, and West Memphis, Arkansas. She also hauled cargo such as cotton, lumber, and grain. She then came to Louisville in 1931 and ran trips between the Fontaine Ferry amusement park near downtown Louisville and Rose Island, a resort about upriver from Louisville. From 1934 through World War II, Idlewild operated a regular excursion schedule. During this time she was outfitted with special equipment to push oil barges along the river. She also served as a floating USO nightclub for troops stationed at military bases along the Mississippi River.

Avalon

In 1947, Idlewild was sold to J. Herod Gorsage in Cincinnati and renamed Avalon, honoring the death-bed wish of her long-time captain, Master Ben Winters. Soon, the city re-christened her the Belle of Louisville. The proximate cause of the sinking was flooding of the hull via a city water line left connected to a fitting that led into the boat's hull. Due to the swift actions of the steamer's crew and other members of the community, the boat was rescued, repaired, and returned to service.

In February 2007, Mark Doty was named as Belle of Louisvilles captain, replacing Kevin Mullen, who left the position in November 2006. Doty's official title is "Master of the Fleet" or "Port Captain".

On October 17, 2009, Belle of Louisville collided with a dock near Six Mile Island on the Ohio River. Witness statements report that the accident occurred as she was making a turnaround about halfway through a cruise. Tugboats were used to pull her to safety. A Belle of Louisville official was quoted as saying that the wind had caused her to hit the dock. It has been reported that one-third of the paddle wheel's bucket planks were damaged in the collision, and jockey bar (the main steel arm, which goes across the aft end of the paddle wheel) was bent. The crew, however, was able to fix the damage without drydocking. The damaged bucket planks were replaced from stock held in storage.

On October 18, 2014, Belle of Louisville turned 100 years old. To celebrate, a 5-day riverboat festival named "The Belle's Big Birthday Bash" was held in Louisville along parts of Louisville Waterfront Park. Eight other riverboats from across the country joined Belle of Louisville to help celebrate her 100th year on the river. The festival incorporated cruises, fireworks, riverfront concerts, hot air balloon glows, and more. The other riverboats attending the festival included Spirit of Jefferson, Anson Northrup, Belle of Cincinnati, The Colonel, General Jackson, River Queen, Spirit of Peoria, and Celebration Belle. This festival was said to be the largest riverboat gathering that Louisville has seen in over 100 years. A portion of the proceeds from The Belle's Big Birthday Bash went toward her preservation fund.

Belle of Louisville in fiction

Belle of Louisville appears as a character (powered by an artificial intelligence) in Rudy Rucker's 1988 novel Wetware, which takes place on the Moon and in Louisville.

Gallery

Image:Belle of Louisville salvage.jpg|The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assists in the salvage of Belle of Louisville after the 1997 incident.

Image:Belleoflouisville.jpg|Belle of Louisville at her home, the 4th Street Wharf.

Image:BelleLouisville2.jpg|Belle of Louisville docked in Cincinnati by Great American Ballpark.

Image:Steamboat_Belle_of_Louisville_at_Clark_Bridge_Louisville_Kentucky_USA_Ohio_River_mile_604_August_1987_file_87h102.jpg|Belle of Louisville at Clark Bridge, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, Ohio River mile 604, August 1987.

Image:Steamboat_Belle_of_Louisville_at_Clark_Bridge_Louisville_Kentucky_USA_Ohio_River_mile_604_August_1987_file_87h103.jpg|Belle of Louisville at Clark Bridge, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, Ohio River mile 604, August 1987.

Image:Steamboat_Belle_of_Louisville_at_wharf_with_George_Rogers_Clark_Memorial_Bridge_in_distance_Louisville_Kentucky_USA_Ohio_River_mile_604_December_1987_file_87l055.jpg|Belle of Louisville at wharf with George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge in distance, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, Ohio River mile 604, December 1987.

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References

External links

Video Clips of Belle of Louisville
Belle of Louisville at Steamboats.org