7 Night Cruise sailing from Chattanooga to St Louis aboard American Queen.

Ohio and Tennessee River Cruises:
By any measure, the Ohio River is no mere tributary to the Mississippi, but a mighty river itself. Coursing nearly 1,000 miles with a watershed encompassing 14 states, the Ohio opened up America's movement West. Here too are the great Wilderness Rivers coursing through Bluegrass country, conjuring up tales of Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone, and raids by Cherokee and Chickamauga tribes. From small towns crowned by church steeples to big city thrills like the Grand Ole Opry® and Churchill Downs, adventure awaits by the mile.

Manifest Destiny
American expansion to the West was seen as the destiny of the nation. During these voyages we will explore the Manifest Destiny movement and its effect on the towns and cities along the major rivers of the Heartland.

Day 1: Chattanooga, TN
Departure: 6:00 p.m.
Enjoy exploring Chattanooga this morning and prepare for boarding the American Queen this afternoon. You will be treated as an honored guest at our Welcome Aboard Reception.

Day 2: Steamboating
Settle into a rocking chair and just let the scenery glide by. Or join in the fun of our numerous onboard activities. Your full day of leisurely steamboating on the river sets the tone for an unforgettable vacation.

Day 3: Florence, AL
Arrival: 8:00 a.m. - Departure: 1:00 p.m.
Included Tour: We will have the opportunity to visit several sites in Florence, Alabama. Starting with one of the oldest structures in Florence, Pope's Tavern Museum was used as a stagecoach stop, tavern and inn, and hospital for both Confederate and Union forces during Civil War. Next stop is the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is a gallery and center for the coordination and promotion for cultural activity in the area. The Father of the Blues, William Christopher Handy, was born in Florence in 1873 in a simple cabin that today houses a large collection of his personal papers, memorabilia and artifacts. We will visit WC Handy House Museum. Next stop is the Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House, a cypress, glass, and brick house built in 1939-1940 has been called one of the purest examples of Wright's Usonian style. Climb the steps of history at this 43 foot high mound. The Florence Indian Mound & Museum is the highest platform mound in the Tennessee Valley region.

Day 4: Savannah, TN
Arrival: 8:00 a.m. - Departure: 1:00 p.m.
The jumping off point for Shiloh National Military Park. The center traces the story of Corinth in the Civil War from secession through Reconstruction. It includes two state-of-the-art films on Shiloh and Corinth, plus interactive interpretive exhibits and stunning bronze work.

Day 5: Paducah, KY
Arrival: 1:00 p.m. - Departure: 5:00 p.m.
Known as the city of art, rhythm and rivers, Paducah boasts a lively Lowertown Arts District, the renowned River Heritage Museum, a Save America's Treasures project, and tours via foot, trolley or horse-drawn carriage reveal its charm. OR Elegant displays at the Museum of the American Quilter's Society highlight the vigorous rebirth of quiltmaking. It's just one of the colorful attractions in a lovely city of 19th century architecture, specialty shops and one-of-a-kind eateries.

Day 6: Cape Girardeau, MO
Arrival: 10:00 a.m. - Departure: 5:00 p.m.
Included Tour: Start the tour with visits to several different houses and museums that cover much of Cape Girardeau's history. Riverfront Murals is a concrete and granite cobblestone amphitheater that provides seating for a scenic look of the Mississippi River.

Day 7: Chester, IL
Arrival: 8:00 a.m. - Departure: 1:00 p.m.
Samuel Smith built the first home in Chester, established a ferry system, and began the construction of a mill in 1829. He is said to be the town's founder. It was his wife Jane Thomas, a native of Chester, England, who gave Chester its name as a tribute to her home town. The Chester area includes a number of state parks and historic sites. The Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site has a beautiful overlook of the Mississippi River. Down the hill from the park is the Pierre Menard Home, an unusually fine example of French Creole-style architecture, which was built around 1815 and was the home of the first lieutenant governor of Illinois. Across the river from the fort is Kaskaskia Island, the only part of Illinois west of the current channel of the Mississippi River. The island was the site of the first state capital of Illinois. A historic church founded by French explorer Pere Jacques Marquette still holds weekly mass on the island. The Liberty Bell of the West, older than the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, is located near the church on the island and was a gift from King Louis XV of France.

Day 8: Disembark in St. Louis, MO
Arrival: 8:00 a.m.
After breakfast, keep an eye out for St. Louis' Gateway Arch. This iconic landmark is a symbol of America's frontier journey. Bid your fellow travelers adieu as you make your way home.