[Victor Canfield]

On this date and day Saturday, July 1st, 1995, the Steamer American Queen was in Louisville as a stop on her 16 day maiden voyage. The voyage had started in Pittsburgh on June 27th, 1995. After Louisville,the boat then traveled to St. Louis where on July 4th, 1995 the American Queen was later joined by the Delta Queen and the Mississippi Queen. This was the first time the three boats were together. The AQ was used as the finish line for the Great Steamboat Race between the Steamers Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen. The American Queen's maiden voyage ended in New Orleans on July 13th. I was fortunate to have been on this maiden voyage as well the shake down cruise where the AQ got stuck on the Ohio near the Kentucky shore opposite Troy, Indiana.