History Lessons and Features

• National Historic Landmark.
• Built at Pittsburgh in 1914 by James Rees & Sons, 95 years old in 2009.
• Original name was the Idlewild, and operated as a passenger ferry and day packet.
• During the 1920's, the Idlewild tramped the Ohio, Illinois, Mississippi and Missouri River systems.
• Served as a floating USO nightclub on the Mississippi for troops during World War II .
• Idlewild was sold in 1947 and the name was changed to the Avalon the following year.
• Investors based in Cincinnati bought the Avalon in 1949, and over the next 13 years she became the most widely traveled river steamer in the country.
• By 1962, the Avalon was in poor shape and in desperate need of major repairs. The boat was literally days away from the scrap yard when a court ordered to put her on the auction block, instead.
• Jefferson County Judge /Executive Marlow Cook offered the highest bid. The boat was purchased for $34,000 of county funds.
• She was renamed the Belle of Louisville and took her first cruise in a race against the Delta Queen on April 30, 1963.
• She is now recognized as the oldest river steamboat still in operation. No other river steamboat in American history has lasted so long, been to so many places or traveled so many miles as the Belle of Louisville.

Features:

Concession stand , bar, gift shop, elevator, full on-board sound system, dance floor, bandstand , indoor & outdoor seating, bathrooms located on ballroom deck, Captain's Quarters air conditioned with private bathroom, Texas deck

Total seating capacity 360, inside seating 228, maximum capacity 750

• Built at Dubuque, Iowa in 1963 by Dubuque Boat and Boiler Company.
• Original name was the Mark Twain and operated as an excursion vessel in the Louisiana bayou country.
• Cruised out of New Orleans from 1963 to 1970.
• After that she made her way up the Mississippi River to St. Louis and was renamed the Huck Finn .
• For 25 years she offered dinner and sightseeing cruises from just below the St. Louis Arch.
• Jefferson County Kentucky bought the boat in December of 1995. She was purchased for $395,000 by Judge/Executive David L. Armstrong.
• Judge Armstrong's office conducted a contest to rename the boat. Over 3,000 entries were received.
• The Huck Finn became the Spirit of Jefferson in April of 1996. Her name honors her home county and the great U.S. President Thomas Jefferson.
• Along with the historic Steamer Belle of Louisville, the Spirit is owned and operated by the Louisville Metro Government.
• She has the look and feel of an old-time steamboat with the modern conveniences of today.
• The Spirit of Jefferson cruises the Ohio River year-round on scheduled dates.

Features:

• Fully heated, air conditioned, concession stand & bar, dance floor, bandstand, full on-board sound system, indoor & outdoor seating, bathrooms located on main deck, private seating indoor 2^nd Deck 

(Great for birthdays, receptions, rehearsal dinners)

Main deck seating capacity 100, second deck seating capacity 56, maximum capacity 250

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