'Queens' stop at Riverfront Park

Cape Girardeau, a city that features a number of attractions -- 19th century buildings and homes, the historic downtown district, the Mississippi River, old Lorimier Cemetery and Cape Rock Park, where Jean Baptiste Girardot established his trading post in the 1700s -- is a stop for a number of river vessels each summer and fall.

The "queens," which made just four stops here in 2000, will double their stops in 2001, including the return of the American Queen, which bypassed Cape Girardeau throughout last summer's schedule.

The American Queen, 418-feet long with a 400-plus passenger capacity - largest of the paddle wheelers in the Delta Queen Steamboat Company fleet, will make three stops at Riverfront Park this year.

The Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen will each stop during the annual Great Steamboat Race -- from New Orleans to St. Louis. The crews from the boats will join the excitement at Riverfront Park, with the Captain Foghorn Follies, to be held on the downtown courthouse grounds.

Also on the summer schedule will be the R/B River Explorer, a floating hotel and touring vessel headquartered in New Orleans. The Explorer will make eight stops here, including a couple of overnight stops. The Explorer is made from two barges and travels the Mississippi, Ohio and Missouri rivers on various trips.

BOAT DOCKINGS

* Nov. 16: American Queen, 1 to 5 p.m.