Posted on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 by Peter Knego
Join Peter Knego for part four of his latest trek aboard Great American Steamboat Company’s grand steamboat AMERICAN QUEEN for a visit to the charming hamlet of Madison, Indiana.
Great American Steamboat Company
Keep up to date with Peter Knego on Twitter by clicking here
All photos by and copyright Peter Knego 2012 unless otherwise noted.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Bunting and balloons at Madison.
Our last full day on the “Grace Boat” AMERICAN QUEEN found us berthed in the charming hamlet of Madison, Indiana. We grabbed some of that Starbucks coffee in the Front Porch and hopped on the Steamcoach for a ride into its downtown area, designated the largest contiguous National Historic Landmark in the United States.
Madison mansion.
We hopped off at the 1844-built Lanier Mansion, located between Main Street and the Ohio Riverfront.
Madison steeple and fountain.
From there, we walked a few short blocks to the Broadway Fountain, which lies in the shadows of the 1873-built Trinity United Methodist Church, one of the tallest structures in the region. The copper fountain dates from 1886 and has been restored in recent years, with a little help from a very special lady.
Irene Dunne marker.
Irene Dunne, one of the class acts of American cinema and star of films such as “The Awful Truth”, “Penny Serenade”, “I Remember Mama” and “Lady In A Jam”, was born in Madison. Until her death in 1990, she had done much to raise awareness of and support her home town. They have not forgotten her.
Main Street, Madison.
Madison’s Main Street is the quintessential river town main street. If it were a Hollywood set, it would be deemed “too quaint” to be real but it is the real thing. The 1958 Shirley MacLaine, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin film, “Some Came Running” was shot here. Not much has changed since then.
AMERICAN QUEEN at Madison, Indiana.
The only good thing about our early departure from beautiful Madison was that it did give us one last afternoon to enjoy the Ohio River from the perspective of AMERICAN QUEEN.
Flute shadows on the river.
It’s hard to believe this entire mode of travel almost came to an end.
Travis taps the calliope keys.
Although he is no Rosalinda de Leon (but who is?), Travis Vasconcelos serenaded with one last calliope concerto as the sun began to dip in our wake.
Stars, stripes and steam.
One last workout, more promenading, visiting with friends at the rail, dinner in the J.M. White and the “Victory Canteen” show in the Grand Saloon ensued before the necessity of packing reared its ugly head and reminded us that the “real world” awaited.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Cincinnati dawning.
The sun would soon rise over Cincinnati, a wondrous city when seen from the perspective of the Ohio River.
Roebling Bridge, Cincinnati.
Behind us, the Roebling Bridge, named for its architect and likewise builder of the Brooklyn Bridge, beckoned from a netherworld that was neither night nor day.
AMERICAN QUEEN at Cincinnati.
And as we shoveled ourselves into a cab headed for the Covington, Kentucky Airport across the river, I had to take one last shot of the AMERICAN QUEEN.
Yes, she really, really is back!
End Of Grace Under Steam Sea Treks…
Very special thanks: Martin Cox, Nora Farrell, Mary Ferlin, Mike Hicks, Christopher Kyte, Tim Rubacky,
Kenneth Eden
May 10, 2012 at 5:14 am
The river cruise is not unlike the ocean cruise is one respect they do share: port visits to wonderful places.
I have visited most of the cities that Peter sailed to by boat ( not enough) and by car. By car = hotel, by boat = the boat. The boat wins by far.
The river cities change with the seasons, and offer ever changing vistas and opportunites. Imagine the ice floes and dead trees from melting winter in Minneapolis and points north, racing to the delta, or the high heat and summer temps with farms and floweres abounding, not to mention, houses towns and cities lit up for winter holidays. Pure Americana.
Again Peter has unfolded a magical mystery tour to be enjoyed.
Bruce Mitchell
May 10, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Reminds me a little of what we experienced when RiverBarge excursions was operating. What in the world does one do on an eight day river voyage (in my case, St. Louis to Cincinati)? ENJOY river time and river places. And wonder what lies around the next bend in the river. Who needs foreign ports when we have as interesting ones we have right here at home. River cruising is great!
Kenneth Eden
May 11, 2012 at 5:19 am
Bruce Mitchell presents the whys and wherefors for taking this type of cruise. Excellent.
Another reason, purely from a tummy aspect, port to port provisioning. Farmers markets and such are shopped by the galley staff, and the best in season produce and vegetables are procured. Visits to local farms for meats and fowls are also done. This holds true on the New England and Canada cruises, mainly on the small ships, and nothing beats a Maine or Canadian lobster!
Just a nice aside here ….
Our local paper, The daily Press, featured a short story today, about a 101 year old man who worked the local Newport News ship yards, with the likes of the SS PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT and SS UNITED STATES.
A splendid job by the author Michael Welles Shapiro and photos by Sanjib Min. The Mariners Museum provided a vintage photo of the ROOSEVELT. Visit at dailypress.com