DELTA QUEEN, OTHER BOATS TO STOP AT CAPE

The Delta Queen, the oldest of three paddlewheelers in the Delta Queen Steamboat Co.'s fleet of three riverboats that ply the waters of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, will make its second stop of the summer here Thursday.

The 285-foot-long, 43-foot-tall Delta Queen was built in 1926 and spent 19 years in the service of the U.S. Navy before she began steaming the Mississippi River in 1947. The oldest queen was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989.

The Delta Queen stopped here Saturday en route to St. Louis along with her sister paddlewheeler, the Mississippi Queen. The two were participating in the New Orleans to St. Louis river race.

The Mississippi Queen, a twin-stacked vessel 382 feet long, has been a visitor to Cape Girardeau a number of times and will make its second appearance here Aug. 2.

A number of area residents had an opportunity to board the Mississippi Queen Saturday when a presentation by the Queens' crew and passengers -- "Captain Foghorn Floating Follies" -- was moved to the boat after being rained out at the Common Pleas Courthouse Park Gazebo.

The Delta Queen will be en route here from Hannibal where it docked following the race to St. Louis that ended Saturday.

The Queens will make a total of eight stops at the Cape Girardeau riverfront in 1998.

The American, largest and newest in the company's fleet, will appear here only once this year -- Sept. 19 -- along with the Mississippi Queen. The 412-foot-long American Queen accommodates more than 400 passengers.

Also on the 1998 docking schedule this year are two appearances by a new riverboat company. The River Barge Excursion Lines of New Orleans will make its first stop here Sept. 16.

The River Barge consists of two river barges. One of the barges has been converted into passenger accommodations, and the other has been converted into an entertainment center, which will provide entertainment and games.

The arrival of one of the Queens at Cape Girardeau always attracts people. They turn out in large numbers to watch the paddlewheelers crunch to a stop and drop the drawbridge.

A year ago the Queens made 17 stops in Cape Girardeau. The Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau estimated that with crew and passengers, the trips accounted for more than 12,000 visitors to the city.

REMAINING 1998 RIVERBOAT VISITS

-- Thursday -- Delta Queen, about 7 a.m. to about 1:30 p.m.

-- Aug. 2 -- Mississippi Queen.

-- Aug. 17 -- Delta Queen.

-- Sept. 3 -- Mississippi Queen.

-- Sept. 16 -- River Barge.

-- Sept. 19 -- Mississippi Queen, 12:30 p.m.; American Queen, 5 p.m.

-- Nov. 3 -- Delta Queen.

-- Nov. 5 -- River Barge.

-- Dec. 24 -- Mississippi Queen.