CINCINNATI

When my parents dated, in the late 1930's and early 1940's, one of their favorite things to do was to take the Island Queen from its Cincinnati landing location up the Ohio River to Coney Island.  It made the trip several times each day during the Summer. 

The Island Queen was a sidewheeler steam ship.  The original was built in 1896.   In 1922, the ship was deteriorating badly and had a fire which spelled its end.  The following year, a new Island Queen was being built and it was finished and christened by it's owner, the Coney Island Company,  in 1925.

Most of it's service was from Cincinnati to Coney Island - an amusement park with dance hall.  Bands played on its decks and drinks were served.  When the water levels were right, the ship made trips as far as New Orleans.  I'm made to believe that many a romance was promoted on the decks of the Island Queen. 

While the ship was in Pittsburgh, September 1947, one of the crew accidentally burned the ship down with a welding torch.  I'm sure he was a Steelers fan.