The Last Authentic Steamboat from America’s Riverboat Era is Still Paddling Down the Ohio River

Belle of Louisville, Kentucky

In 1914, hundreds of steamboats churned through America’s rivers. Today, only one authentic paddlewheeler from that era still operates: the Belle of Louisville.

She’s not a replica or a museum piece – she’s a working steamboat that’s been carrying passengers on the Ohio River for over 100 years.

And yes, she’s happy to welcome you aboard. Here’s more about the beautiful Belle of Louisville.

Pittsburgh’s Gift to River History Still Chugs Along

Built in 1914 in Pittsburgh, the Belle of Louisville is officially the oldest river steamboat still taking passengers today.

When you step aboard, you’re literally walking on a vessel that’s seen everything from World War I to the smartphone era.

Her 100th Birthday Was a 5-Day Affair

When the Belle turned 100 in 2014, Louisville threw her a five-day party that brought other historic steamboats to the waterfront.

During her centennial year, she received a special birthday gift when she won the Great Steamboat Race after the Belle of Cincinnati graciously conceded in her honor.

Officially Historic

The federal government doesn’t hand out National Historic Landmark status to just any old boat, but the Belle got that honor in 1989. She was already on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972, but the landmark designation is next-level recognition.

Last Authentic Packet Boat Still Taking Passengers

If you’re wondering what a “packet boat” is, it’s basically a scheduled service vessel that carried mail, packages, and passengers back in the day. The Belle is the last authentic one still operating in America.

The Music Comes from a Steam-Powered Organ

The Belle’s calliope is a steam-powered organ that can be heard up to five miles away on clear days.

The whistles on her current calliope are specially made replicas of Thomas J. Nichol-style whistles, featuring copper “bells” that create a distinctive sound compared to brass whistles used on other boats.

In an interesting twist of repurposing, whistles in an earlier calliope built by Earnest J. Wilde were actually made from spent World War II mortar casings.

Her 1962 Purchase Was Controversial

When Jefferson County Judge Marlow Cook bought the then-named Avalon at auction for $34,000 in 1962, people thought he was crazy.

The Coast Guard had condemned her hull as unsafe, with concrete patches weighing down the damaged structure.

Captain Alan L. Bates supervised the restoration and wrote a book about it called “Str. Belle of Louisville” (1964), which boat historians still reference today.

She Survived Being Deliberately Sunk

In August 1997, someone actually sabotaged the Belle and sank her right at her own wharf. After investigation, authorities convicted a former crew member of the crime.

She’s Been Basically Everywhere

She’s voyaged from the Gulf of Mexico all the way up to Canada, and from Montana to Pennsylvania.

When she was new, the Belle worked as a ferry between Memphis and West Memphis, Arkansas, hauling everything from people to cotton, lumber, and grain.

In 1931, she came to Louisville and started running trips between the Fontaine Ferry amusement park and Rose Island, a resort 14 miles upriver.

She Races Other Steamboats Every Year

Since 1963, the Belle has participated in the Great Steamboat Race during Kentucky Derby Festival week, competing for a trophy of silver antlers.

Her first race was against the Delta Queen on April 30, 1963, starting a river tradition that’s still going strong. In 2024, she lost to the Belle of Cincinnati, but 2025 could be her comeback year.

This Boat Has Had More Name Changes Than a Rock Star

Before becoming Louisville’s favorite steamboat, this vessel went through an identity crisis. She started life as the “Idlewild” in 1914, then became the “Avalon” in 1948.

The Avalon name came as a dying wish from her captain, Ben Winters, who really loved his boat. During WWII as the Idlewild, she pulled double duty as a floating USO club hosting big band shows for soldiers.

Her Engines Are Older Than She Is

The Belle’s two 450-horsepower single piston engines likely date back to the 1890s, making them older than the boat itself.

The Belle maintains her original paddlewheel power and flat-bottom hull design typical of Mississippi River-style steamboats.

In the late 1960s, naval architect Alan Bates redesigned her bow to make her faster during steamboat races, replacing a blunter bow that let waves splash over at high speeds.