What is the Delta Queen riverboat?

The Delta Queen is a famous, historic steamboat. Although it first sailed in California in 1927, the ship has traveled extensively in the South, mostly on the Mississippi River, acting as a cruise ship and a floating hotel. The ship is a U.S. National Historic Landmark.

During World War II, the Delta Queen was briefly requisitioned for service in the U.S. Navy before returning to commercial use in 1948. In the early 2000s, the Delta Queen was only permitted to carry overnight passengers by a congressional exemption from modern safety standards. As of 2015, the steamboat is undergoing a restoration.