The American Queen is the largest paddle wheeler and a replica of original stern wheelers on the Mississippi River, offering an authentic experience enhanced by excellent food, entertainment, and relaxing atmosphere. The journey requires navigating complex river conditions, including the challenging process of lowering smokestacks and the pilot house to pass under bridges, along with traversing 21 locks with intricate dam systems. The voyage visits historic towns and sites, allowing interactions with locals and showcasing regional heritage, including stops at notable locations such as Mark Twain's birthplace and an Amish farm.

1. The American Queen is the Largest
Paddle Wheeler in the World

2. She is a Complete Replica of the
Original Stern Wheelers that
Sailed the Mighty Mississippi

4. We Board the Ship and Go
Through the Traditional Life
Vest Drills

5. The Interior Decorating is
Authentic and Incredible with
Many Real Antiques
Throughout

6. These Ships Bring You Back to the Feel
and Style of the Mark Twain Period

11. The Atmosphere Onboard was Incredibly Relaxing. The Crew was
Fantastic. The Food was Non-Stop and Excellent.

12. At Every Port, the River Tradition is to
Play the Calliope as One Sails Away

14. There were Wonderful
Entertainment Acts that Changed
Every Day Including a Mark Twain
Impersonator

15. Navigating the
Mississippi River is an
Ever Changing
Process. The
Channels are always
Moving and the River
Conditions can be
Treacherous.
This Year the Water
Levels were Especially
High. Sailing under
Bridges can be a Real
Challenge.

16. To get Under Certain
Bridges, the Ship has
to Literally be
Lowered.
The Following
Sequence of Photos
Shows how the Smoke
Stacks are
Hydraulically Rotated
onto Cradles.

20. Once the Smoke
Stacks are Both
Rotated Down, then
the Pilot House must
also be Lowered
Sufficiently to fit under
the Bridges.
The next photo is an
Interior View of the
Pilot House.

22. The Entire Pilot House with all its
Controls is also Hydraulically Lowered
Far enough to allow Bridge Clearance.
(At left, Pilot House in Fully Raised
Position.)

23. Just enough Clearance to Allow the
Captain and his Crew to Operate the
Ship Utilizing Secondary Controls as
we Sail Under a Bridge.

24. Captain’s (Pilot’s) Licenses are Not
Easy to Obtain. The Test Requires the
Captain to Draw the Mississippi River
by Heart with all the Obstacles, Locks
and Channels.

26. We Sailed Through Twenty One (21)
River Locks During our Journey from
Alton, Illinois to Red Wing Minnesota.
Each Lock Includes a Complex Dam
System with River Level Controls.

27. In Order to Control the Mississippi
River Water Levels between Each Set
of Locks and Dams, there are a Series
of Huge Doors that Are Able to Rotate
Deep Under Water Regulating Flow.

28. The Locks are Controlled by Doors that Either
Move Vertically Up and Down (Left) or Hinging
Doors (Right). Ships are Raised or Lowered inside
the Locks by as Much as 120 Feet.

29. The Northern Mississippi River Winds
through Many States and Sleepy Towns

30. But They Take
Enormous
Pride in their
Heritage

31. We are Greeted by Local Towns People
who Love to Make you Feel Welcome

32. And When the Grand
American Queen Ties to Trees
by the River’s Edge, the Town’s
People Come Out to Enjoy the
Excitement

33. We Stop at Many Cities and Towns Along
the Mississippi including the Birthplace of
Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

37. There’s Nothing Like a Cold Ice Cream
on a Hot Summer’s Day, Especially at
the “Olde Ice Cream Shoppe”

40. In Case You
Need any
Dental Work
Done, there
are Traditional
Methods and
Tools
Available

41. This is the Camp Where “Lewis and Clark”
Started their Journey West

42. Red Wing, Minnesota is Famous for
their Hand Made Stoneware

44. Each Hand Made Pot is then Loaded
into this Incredibly Hot Kiln for Firing

45. Red Wing, Minnesota has been Making
Their Stoneware for Many Decades

46. We Visited an Amish
Farm to Learn about
their Methods of Living
Close to the Earth
without Electricity or
Indoor Plumbing