THE LOUISVILLE & CINCINNATI PACKET CO.
The Steamer America seen below
started out as the Indiana. Built in 1900 by the Howard Ship Yard in
Jeffersonville, Indiana for the Louisville & Cincinnati Packet Co. She drew
only 30" and replaced the City of Louisville (below) in times of low water.
This boat never ventured below Louisville. She caught fire on May 1, 1916 at the
Cincinnati Landing and was partially burned (see 2nd image, not a postcard). After being rebuilt at the Howard
Yard she was renamed the America. Laid up above Jeffersonville, Indiana, for the
winter of 1930, she burned once again. Arson was suspected.
The Betsy Ann was built in 1899 in Dubuque, Iowa. She is best
remembered for her races against the Chris Greene (1928), and the Tom Greene
(1929 & 1930). This led to the rebirth of the steamboat racing tradition.
She was dismantled in St. Louis in 1940.
The Steamer America Indiana after fire. The Steamer Betsy Ann Back of card on the left
at foot of Main St.
The City of Cincinnati was part of the Louisville & Cincinnati Packet Co. fleet. The Packet Co. boats can always be easily spotted because they are always seen with two white stripes on their smoke stacks until after the destruction of the fleet in the 1917-1918 ice jam when the company was bought by new owners and the white collar symbol on the stacks were abandoned. This packet boat was built in 1899 at the Howard Ship Yard in Jeffersonville, Indiana. She was built expressly for the Louisville-Cincinnati trade, working in tandem with her sister ship, the City of Louisville (built in 1894) seen below. Both boats were built for freight and overnight passenger service with 72 staterooms, and an excursion capacity permit for 1,500 passengers. Both boats were destroyed in the 1918 Ice Gorge disaster (see Disaster Section.) The 3rd card is not only misidentified it is misspelled.
The City of Cincinnati
The City of
Cincinnati
At Louisville
Not a postcard
City of
Louisville
The City of Louisville
pantry-1897
The all steel steamer Cincinnati was built in 1924 for the Cincinnati & Louisville Packet Co. It was considered the most modern craft on an American river. It was radio equipped, had an orchestra, social hostesses, there were 40 waiters and 12 men in the kitchen, etc. It was nearly 300 feet long and 85 feet wide. It had hot and cold running water in every extra large stateroom. The original plan had been to build two of these boats but because the cost of building the Cincinnati was so over budget at $417,000 the hull of the 2nd would-be Louisville was sold to the Coney Island Company and became the 2nd Island Queen. Below is a series of photographs that are from the souvenir book that was put out for the dedication of this steamer.
Passengers on maiden
voyage
Main Cabin &
Mezzanine
Lounging
Room
Parlor
Stateroom
Dining
Saloon
Kitchen
ADVERTISEMENTS FROM SOUVENIR BOOK
Bedding
China-Railings-Steel
Work
Kitchens Postal Card (Repro)
Plumbing
Meats
Wire-Iron-Bronze
Work
Reed Furniture
Various
1912 Pass for a V.I.P.
1894 Ad.
STEAMBOAT CABINS
The next card is rarely seen. It shows the cabin area of an unnamed steamboat. On a packet the cabin ran the length of the interior of the passenger quarters on the boiler deck. They were usually painted white and were trimmed in gilt and adorned with turned wood columns and jig-saw work. On either side of the cabin were the stateroom doors, and overhead were glass skylight panes. The forward end was designated the men's cabin where the bar was located, while the aft end was the ladies cabin which was carpeted and terminated in a huge gilt-framed mirror. The cabin served the dual purpose of a lounging area and dining hall. The top image is a postcard, the other interiors are photographs.
The first image above is of the interior of an unknown steamboat. The second image is of the tunnel shaped cabin of the J. W. White. It had a Brussels carpet, opulent light fixtures, and a piano. The third image is the cabin of the Queen City with the table set for dinner. The last image shows passengers keeping warm around a pot bellied stove. You can see a cord laying on the deck leading from the camera to the man with his back to us. He was probably the photographer.
The first two images show the cabin of the Grand Republic, the largest and most lavish steamer built after the Civil War. This palatial boat, built in 1876, arrived in Cincinnati on its maiden voyage. So many people came aboard to see her that the Captain left early, concerned that the lush carpets would be soiled. The last photograph was taken aboard the Henry M. Stanley in 1900.
The first image above shows the crew of the steamboat Courier seated for dinner. The open stateroom doors on each side show the bunk beds inside. In 1897 the 2nd image was taken in the cabin of the Bonanza.
FOR MORE
STEAM BOATS 
