Steamboat DELTA QUEEN Could Secure a New Lease on Life Following Decade-Long Hiatus, thanks to Fresh Ownership
The iconic steamboat DELTA QUEEN, a cherished fixture on the Mississippi River, is currently retired and not sailing in 2025. Unlike her sister ship, the DELTA KING, no major public effort has emerged to save or restore the DELTA QUEEN.
Built in 1927, the DELTA QUEEN had an illustrious career on the Mississippi, Ohio, and tributary rivers after being purchased in 1946 by Captain Tom R. Greene. During World War II, both boats served as "Yard Ferry Boats" for the U.S. Navy. After ceasing original service in California, they later moved into river cruises.
In 2021, Category 4 Hurricane Ida caused significant damage to the DELTA QUEEN. However, no recent information indicates that the DELTA QUEEN has been actively offered for sale or about a set asking price. The Delta Queen Steamboat Company has not disclosed the listing price for the DELTA QUEEN.
The DQSC is considering a plan to preserve the DELTA QUEEN without dismantling it. The goal is to preserve the National Historical Landmark DELTA QUEEN for posterity. Interested parties should contact the Delta Queen Steamboat Company at [email protected].
In 2018, President Trump signed an exemption for the steamboat from the SOLAS (Safety at Sea Law). This exemption could potentially be utilised in any future plans for the DELTA QUEEN's restoration.
Captain Don Sanders, a river man and columnist for the NKY Tribune, has published a book named "The River." The book is available for purchase at various locations, including the website Roebling Books, Behringer Crawford Museum, and St. Elizabeth Healthcare gift shops.
There is a call for bringing the DELTA QUEEN back to Cincinnati or its vicinity. The DELTA QUEEN's future preservation depends on whether advocates or investors emerge to champion her cause. An organized plan and resources are required for her restoration, and a GoFundMe campaign is not expected to save the DELTA QUEEN.
References:
[1] "Delta Queen Steamboat Company." Accessed July 2025. https://www.dqsteamboat.com/
[3] "Delta Queen." Accessed July 2025. https://www.nps.gov/daku/learn/historyculture/delta-queen.htm
- The preservation of the historic DELTA QUEEN, a cherished fixture on the Mississippi River, might find a new home in Cincinnati or northern Kentucky.
- Interested individuals, likely with a passion for both history and lifestyle, should consider investing in the restoration of the DELTA QUEEN, a National Historical Landmark.
- In addition to supporting the home-and-garden section of your life, consider supporting the DELTA QUEEN by reaching out to the Delta Queen Steamboat Company to learn more about her current status.
