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Donna: Thanks for your most interesting posting about your father's role in salvaging the RIVER QUEEN in 1968. I have a series of very sad photographs of that operation, several of which include the crane/scoop shovel working at the site. An auction of artifacts (and junque!) was held, with the broken pilotwheel bringing $140. The anchor was purchased by the Golden Eagle River Museum (the museum closed last fall after 30 years) and other items were purchased by collectors and souvenir seekers. The bell on the RIVER QUEEN at the time of her December, 1967 sinking was not the original one that was installed when she was built at the CAPE GIRARDEAU for the Eagle Packet Company in 1923. This bell had been removed in the early 1950's when the GORDON C. GREENE (The second name of the CAPE GIRARDEAU) was retired. This bell now is on the excursion boat BELLE OF CINCINNATI. At the Howard Steamboat Museum in Jeffersonville, Indiana (just across the street from where the CAPE GIRARDEAU/GODRON C. GREENE/RIVER QUEEN was built) we have an excellent model of the boat built by Franz Neumeier, the webmaster of this site, as well as a piece of the pilotwheel, a transom window from the engineroom, an oar with the boat's name stencilled on it, and other items. Other artifacts from the boat, such as chandeliers from her cabin, mirrored cabin doors, lights, china, etc., are in private collections. Please come visit us if you're in the area!
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