The four-level paddle-wheeling Delta Queen made its annual return to its Queen City home port Friday.
Cincinnati Vice Mayor Minette Cooper proclaimed May 1 "Delta Queen Steamboat Day" in honor of the national landmark.
Hamilton County Commissioner Tom Neyer said he was struck by the luster of the Delta Queen.
"We are proud to have our affiliation with you," he said.
In its 51st docking at Cincinnati, the Delta Queen also heralded some significant changes for the owners of the historic 174-passenger steamboat.
Delta Queen Steamboat Co. President Scott Young announced that the cruiseline is expanding beyond in-land routes and will offer coastal cruises.
Within the next 10 years, the company will build five vintage-style ships inspired by turn-of-the-century vessels to travel routes along the Pacific Northwest, the California Coastline and the Eastern Seaboard, he said, adding that there will be room on each for more than 200 passengers and 75 crew members.
Anchored to the Cincinnati Public Landing Friday, the Delta Queen steamboat drew its share of gasps, smiles and open-mouthed stares.
Randy Ball, a cab driver, who drove over to the Public Landing to see if he could pick up any departing passengers stayed just to get a look at the steamboat.
"I've never seen anything like this before," he said.
"It's cool that they kept something like this around. It makes me want to take a trip down the river. I think it might be kind of fun."
