What is the Mississippi Queen steamboat?

The Mississippi Queen was the second largest steamboat ever built and was constructed by Jeffboat Inc. in Jefferson, Indiana, from 1973 to 1975. It was a seven-deck recreation of the classic riverboats that once traveled along the Mississippi River.

The Mississippi Queen launched in 1974 and began transporting passengers in 1976. The boat had 208 staterooms and a 422-passenger capacity. It used a paddle wheel that weighed 70 tons and featured a 44-whistle steam calliope, the largest in the Mississippi system. The boat’s bow featured two mermaids that overlooked the river, which were later purchased and restored. The Mississippi Queen was sold for scrap in May 2009.