Louisville to become stop for steamboat

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A huge steamboat will make Louisville a home port while cruising the Ohio River, and officials are trumpeting the economic gains long before passengers are whistled aboard.

The Mississippi Queen will ply the river on seven-night cruises between Louisville and Pittsburgh next year, said a spokesman for the Delta Queen Steamboat Co., which operates the paddle-wheeler.

The boat will make 16 cruises between Louisville and Pittsburgh, starting in mid-July of 2002.

Louisville has been a port of call for the Mississippi Queen and other steamboats operated by the company, Lida said.

Science Museum to host Vikings exhibit

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Vikings are returning to Minnesota, 1,000 years after they first sailed across the North Atlantic in open boats and became the first Europeans in North America.

The Science Museum of Minnesota will display the manuscripts, embroidered textiles, bronze swords, jewelry and replicas of ships in November 2002 as part of "Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga."

Developers propose Motown museum

DETROIT -- Developers have submitted to the city plans for a $28 million Motown music museum.

The museum, to be called the Motown Center, would offer interactive exhibits, programs and performances.

It also would realize the city's dream of a larger attraction honoring the likes of Motown Records Corp. founder Berry Gordy Jr. and acts like the Temptations and the Supremes. --AP