The Belle of Louisville
Welcome to a Floating Historical Landmark
The Belle of Louisville began in 1914 being built in
Pittsburgh, PA by the James Rees & Sons and named
Idlewild
She was owned by West Memphis Packet Co. and operated as a packet, an excurson boat and a ferry. The New St. Louis & Calhoun Packet Corporation bought her in 1928 and sold her in 1947 to J. Herod Gorsage.
She was renamed in February 1948 by J. Herod Gorsage, Peoria, IL to
Avalon
She was based in Cincinnati and operated by the Steamer Avalon, Inc., and was finally sold in 1962 to the Jefferson County Fiscal Court, Louisville. for $34,000. After extensive repairs, she was renamed on October 14, 1962
The Belle of Louisville
In June of 1963 she challenged the Delta Queen to a 12 mile race which took place in June 5, and the new Belle of Louisville was 3 miles behind when the DQ crossed the finish line. That race was the start of the annual event between the Belle of Louisville and the Delta Queen held during Derby week. The races are won almost equally and one wonders if a slight bit of "rigging" might account for each boat winning fifty percent of the time.
For a detailed discussion of the Belle of Louisville from its beginning until the present click on
On August 21, 1997 the Belle of Louisville began taking on water and slipping beneath the Ohio river.
It wasn't determined until much later that valve had been purposely left open by a former employee.
The following pictures were taken by Barbara Whiteside of Clarksville, Indiana.
Her list is evident in this picture.
Her paddlewheel is of little use at this momemt.
Cranes keep her from slipping beneath the water.
She is being towed to Jeffboat for inspection and repair.