Memphis to St. Louis

Enjoy your complimentary stay at the pre-cruise hotel. The evening is yours to become acquainted with the city. Our Hospitality Desk will be located in the hotel, and our friendly staff can assist with everything from general questions about your upcoming voyage to reserving premium experiences. Both American Queen Steamboat Company and local representatives will be readily available to provide you with dining, entertainment and sightseeing options to maximize your time here.

Memphis has a plethora of places to visit and things to do for all guests. Embrace the city that has been coined not only the home of the blues but also the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll. Boogie on down to Beale Street – alive with quirky places to indulge in some Southern barbeque, purchase souvenirs for friends and family (or a little something for yourself) and sip on a Blue Suede Tini. As one of the most famous music destinations in the world, Memphis is a melodious port for our guests to experience. 

Watch small river towns and lush landscapes slowly become lost in the horizon as sunlight plays upon the deck. Take hold of a literary classic, curl up on a plush chair in a cozy corner and relish in the moment of tranquility. Experience the fulfillment that river cruising offers.

New Madrid is known for being near the military engagement the Battle of Island Number Ten during the Civil War. The city is also famous for being the site of a series of more than 1,000 earthquakes in 1811 and 1812, caused by what is called the New Madrid Seismic Zone. Explore the history of earthquakes, documented with seismographic recordings, in addition to Native American artifacts, Civil War artifacts and family life in New Madrid during the 19th and 20th centuries. 

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS: New Madrid Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
New Madrid Historical Museum  
Located in the former Kendall Saloon off of Main Street, the New Madrid Historical Museum shares the history of this river town from the Mississippian period through the 20th century. Here, guests can explore the great earthquakes of 1811 and 1812, documented with seismographic recordings, Native American artifacts, Civil War artifacts, early family life in the city of New Madrid during the 19th and 20th centuries, and the gift shop!
Suggested Visit: 30 minutes - 1 hour.

In the hands of artists, modern Paducah was thrown into form. Fingertips muddied with passion and eased by the vision of river water glided along the surface to pull up the community and create the National Quilt Museum. Residents backstitch past into present, then bind appreciation for culture – ensuring that the seams of history will not soon come undone. The people of Paducah have taken great care to orchestrate every crevice of its community into a symphony of craft and color. Life is a work of art, and the town of Paducah certainly is alive and well. Feast in this foodies’ fantasy. Uncover mastership. Catch a glimpse of Paducah. 

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

• Paducah Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
  The National Quilt Museum  Celebrating 30 years in 2021, the National Quilt Museum is the largest of its kind in the world. It is the portal to the contemporary quilt experience and features exhibits and workshops by renowned quilters who implement creative approaches to fiber art. The museum features over 600 pieces of art highlighting a collection of modern quilts and changing thematic exhibitions that celebrate the talent and diversity of the global quilting community. The National Quilt Museum shares the artistic tradition of quilt making and played an integral role in Paducah's designation as a UNESCO Creative City in 2013. Visit the Museum Shop & Book Store for Kentucky-crafted items and quilt-related instructional and collector books. Suggested Visit: 30 minutes - 1 hour

Cape Girardeau has shown hospitality to the likes of Mark Twain, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, and now greets our guests in the same vein. Peeking through the long-standing architecture and handsome panoramas are moments that will mature into golden memories. They say sometimes the little things make the biggest impact, and here, a million little things have built an empire. Take time to dance among the light of day or pedal along the sliver of bike lanes that strip along city streets. Embrace legends, discover a simpler time and relive the wonders of the past. Here, exploration of young America is at your fingertips. 

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

• Cape Girardeau Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
  Nestled along the western banks of the mighty Mississippi River lays the city of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It’s a community rich in history and heritage. For more than 250 years, people have been drawn to Cape Girardeau and the river on which it lies. Stroll along the riverfront to feel the passion that led Mark Twain to write so eloquently about Cape Girardeau in Life on the Mississippi , the inspiration that Gen. Ulysses S. Grant used to lead with firm conviction as he took command of the Union Army in the historic downtown and the warmth and hospitality that community founder Louis Lorimier extended to Lewis and Clark while on their journey to explore the Louisiana Purchase.

Samuel Smith is considered the town’s “official” founder because he built the first home here, started a ferry system, and began construction of a mill in 1829. The town was named after Chester, the city in England where his wife Jane Smith was from. The first business in Chester was a general store that opened in 1830 along with a castor oil press established by R. B. Servant. The H.C. Cole Milling Company was founded by Nathan Cole in 1839. It started out as a small sawmill with a corn-grinding attachment which encouraged the townspeople to plant grains, and in a short time the first Cole flour mill was built. 

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS: Chester Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Cohen Memorial Home  
The Cohen Home is located on a beautiful historical site on Harrison Street overlooking the Mississippi River. Its unusual blue storm windows make it a very visible landmark for boats on the river and travelers approaching the Chester Bridge from Missouri. Built in 1855, it was the home of the William Cohen family who lived there until 1983. The upstairs' bedrooms contain furnishings and collections from several families of Chester including the Cohen family.
Suggested Visit: 30 minutes     

The Spinach Can Collectibles and Museum   
As the only Popeye collectibles store and museum in America, this small shop located in Downtown Chester will surely bring back memories of the past as you explore. Walk around the front to see original and rare collectibles featuring Popeye, Olive Oyl, Wimpy, Bluto, Swee'Pee, Jeep, and much more. Pick out the perfect unique book, toy, video, postcard, poster, or other memorabilia for someone back home or to keep for yourself. Then head into the back to see some rare and highly sought after Popeye collectibles.
Suggested Visit: 15 - 30 minutes     

The Spinach Can Collectibles and Museum   
The museum houses permanent displays as well as some artifacts that are temporarily on loan, and it hosts shows and exhibits that showcase specific treasures from the heritage and the long history of Randolph County. In addition, the newly established archives room will enable the museum to properly preserve and store documents, photographs, and other non-displayed artifacts for generations to come. Explore the history of Randolph County through collections of paintings, articles, photos, and artifacts that depict their past.
Suggested Visit: 30 - 45 minutes     

The Spinach Can Collectibles and Museum   
The Chester Welcome Center is located in Segar Park next to the Chester Bridge. It contains restrooms, an information center with displays, and a large deck overlooking the Mississippi River and Missouri Bottoms. The bronze statue of Popeye the Sailor Man has been overlooking the Mississippi River in Segar Park for more than 30 years. This is just one of the many Popeye character statues placed throughout the town.
Suggested Visit: 15 minutes

Kimmswick offers a chance to step back into the less hurried days of the 1800s. A look back furnishes us with an appreciation for the historical significance. Theodore Kimm, a successful St. Louis dry goods merchant, moved to Jefferson County, Missouri in 1850 and purchased a large tract of land where the Little Rock Creek empties into the Mississippi. Travel to the area in the early days was by way of the Mississippi River or by inland trails that were first used by the Indians and later by the French and Spanish. The route was called “Rue Royale” by the French and “El Camino Real” by the Spanish. Many goods were hauled over this trail by two-wheeled oxcarts and later by wagons. Early settlements in this area were under French control. But when France lost the French and Indian War, this land west of the Mississippi went to Spain. Spanish control was relatively brief, from 1762 until 1800. Then Napoleon Bonaparte, by a secret treaty, re-acquired the land from Spain. Only three years later he sold the land to the U.S. during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. The building of the St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad from St. Louis to Pilot Knob, Missouri, began in 1854. Completing the railroad in 1858 brought a stream of settlers, tradespeople, and farmers. Theodore Kimm, taking advantage of the increased economic possibilities, founded the town of Kimmswick in 1859. A native of Germany, Kimm named the town after himself and his birthplace by combining the words “Kimmswick.”

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS: Kimmswick Full Day
Anheuser House:
Explore the Anheuser Museum and Estate, a historic home constructed in 1867. The home was passed down to Mabel Ruth Anheuser and Fred Anheuser, the great grandson of the founder of E. Anheuser Brewing Company, Eberhard Anheuser. Today, the estate houses a collection of family heirlooms, antiques, portraits, and a family library. Enjoy a tour of the home and museum, and soak in the views of the river, where bald eagles can often be spotted soaring above.

Burgess Howe House:
The Burgess How House was constructed in 1840. Its original home was in Mapaville, Missouri. When the historic log cabin was slated for demolition in 1970, the Kimmswick Historical Society disassembled the cabin piece by piece, and transported each log to Kimmswick, where they rebuilt the historic structure. Explore the log cabin and admire the historic collection of antiques that fill the home.

As the journey concludes, there are other opportunities for you to take in the town. Enjoy the city at your leisure, or consider an airport transfer.