Most of you probably know by now that the steam overnight passenger boat American Queen was delivrered to a metal recyling yard at Houma, Louisiana, this week. I don't know what to add to the conversation you've probably alreay heard other than to say ...
I enjoyed photographing that boat. My then 10-year-old son and I got to tour it and shoot stills and video for the company I worked for at the time. We saw the wheelhouse and the engine room, if I recall correctly. The visit to the engine room may have come on a different tour in 2017. I don't recall right now and those photos are on a hard drive that needs its power source repaired.
I can think of lots of business reasons for the boat's new owner to have it scrapped, but that doesn't mean I or we have to like it or approve it. At least the Delta Queen is still sitting somewhere, waiting for the day it can be considered refurbished and ready to travel under its own power again.
