The Cincinnati History Library and Archives
And Status of the Delta Queen Steamboat
by Nori Muster
Photo Album
June 21, 2014: Cincinnati Photos - Museum Center Reunion
June 22, 2014: Jeffersonville Photos - Burch's Landing
June 22, 2014: Jeffersonville Photos - Howard Steamboat Museum
June 24, 2014: Chattanooga Photos - The Delta Queen Steamboat
June 21, 2014: Cincinnati Museum Steamboat Reunion Lunch
A group photo of the reunion, which included fifteen members of the Sons & Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen. The purpose of the gathering was to celebrate the Delta Queen Steamboat, the City of Cincinnati, and the Cincinnati Museum Center. In 1989, the Muster family donated Bill Muster's steamboat papers to the Cincinnati History Library and Archives, housed in the Museum Center.
Bill Muster (1926-1989), spent his life saving the Delta Queen Steamboat. At the reception, Nori presented this photo to Scott Gampfer, director of the History Library. Ruth Guenther is holding the framed photo in the group photo (above, front row, right).
Among the guests were seven women who volunteered to clean and care for the Delta Queen when it was a hotel in Chattanooga. Six are in the photo. Front row l to r: Barbara Hameister, Carol Roth, Gayle Hindman; back row: Ruth Guenther, Katie Blackburn, Jo Ann Schoen; present but not in photo: Sue Baird. Other volunteers included: Pat Carr, Dot Cornelius, and the late Pat Traynor (for whom working on the Delta Queen kept her heart going during her final months), and the late Ann Zieger, legendary leader of the "River Rats."
During a phase of remodeling on the Delta Queen, the carpenter made four sets of earrings out of a piece of veneer removed from the boat. The earrings were later made into charms so that eight women could each have one. Attendees at the reunion accounted for five of the eight pieces.
Gayle Hindman wore her Delta Queen purse; and many were wearing Delta Queen t-shirts.
Left to right: Bill Muster, Don Sanders, and John Fryant. Don Sanders is a former Delta Queen captain and steamboat owner; John Fryant is the top paddlewheel riverboat model builder, and retired civil engineer.
Note that Don Sanders is wearing a Delta Queen tie.
Robyn Gibboney, of Museum Center, with Ruth Guenther. Ruth has taken 145 cruises on the Delta Queen and her sister ships.
June 22, 2014: Jeffersonville, Indiana - Burch's Landing
Burch's Landing is a memorial to the Mississippi Queen at the riverfront home of George and Kim Burch. You can see the mermaids from the Ohio River at Mile Marker MM 600.5.
The mermaids' view of the Ohio River. They came from the calliope of the Mississippi Queen and were salvaged after the boat was dismantled. To see how they looked on the calliope, and how they ended up at Burch's Landing, click here.
Left to right: Nori Muster, Travis Vasconcelos, Bill Muster, Keith Norrington, Phillip and Susan Johnson. Keith is the curator and director of the Howard Steamboat Museum; Travis is riverlorian on the American Queen and Howard Museum board member. Phillip is an engineer who has looked after the Delta Queen since she went to Chattanooga.
The Belle of Louisville passing on the Ohio River.
The American Queen on the Ohio, with Louisville, Kentucky, in the background.
June 22, 2014: Jeffersonville, Indiana - The Howard Steamboat Museum
The sign at the entrance to the Howard Steamboat Museum in Jeffersonville. The Museum is just up the road from Burch's Landing.
The mansion that was once the home of the Howard family, owners and founders of Jeffboat Shipyard of Jeffersonville.
Inside the Howard mansion.
One of the antiques, a weathervane.
The weathervane, front view.
On the grounds of the Howard Museum, a replica of a steamboat pilothouse.
The bell from the Mississippi Queen.
An antique ship's waterpump.
A steamboat brig on the grounds of the Museum, now keeping Nori Muster from causing more trouble.
June 24, 2014: Chattanooga, Tennessee - The Delta Queen Steamboat
Portraits of the Delta Queen at Coolidge Park, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The Delta Queen showing her deferred maintenance. All the wood on the paddlewheel needs to be replaced.
Although the Delta Queen left Cincinnati in the 1980s, the original sign above the paddlewheel remains. It says: "Port of Cincinnati, Ohio."
More deferred maintenance. Although in rough shape, the boat will survive.
Bill Muster and John Lewis. John worked for the Greene Line, beginning in the 1950s. You can see the Delta Queen looking out from behind the bridge on the right.
Also at the Chattanooga waterfront: the Southern Belle (the small boat), docked at a wharf boat (the larger vessel).
This disastrous sinking barge was once a restaurant on the East Coast, but was towed to Chattanooga. The owner has ignored the City's requests to remove it. This vessel has given all boats in need of TLC in Chattanooga a bad name. The Delta Queen has deferred maintenance, but she also has a host of supporters with plans to make needed repairs and put her back in the cruise business. Go to Steamboats.com to find out how you can help!
