Ohio River Cruise

Enjoy a guided tour through two of the museum’s most popular exhibits; The 1904 World’s Fair: Looking Back at Looking Forward, an event that attracted over 200,000 visitors to the opening day and Route 66: Main Street through St. Louis, a roadway which played an important role in American History, not only in fact but in myth. Learn about the companies and tourist traps that travelers had to pass through.

*Note: This tour is only offered on cruises ending in St. Louis, MO.

Enjoy a narrated tour of downtown St. Louis, the riverfront, Citygarden, and the historic neighborhoods of Soulard and Lafayette Square. Delight in a visit to St. Louis' 1,371 acre Forest Park, known as a natural oasis in an urban environment.

*Note: This tour is only offered on cruises ending in St. Louis, MO.

The evening before arriving in Cape Girardeau, your onboard historian will paint a vivid picture of the Cherokee peoples' crossing of the Mississippi River to land in present-day Oklahoma. The forced march became known by the Cherokee people as the Trail of Tears due to its devastating effects. Memorializing this event is the Trail of Tears State Park. Led by our expert guide, explore the interpretive center, which houses a series of interpretive panels, paintings, maps, and other memorabilia, depicting the Cherokees’ tragic crossing of the Mississippi River.

Join a local guide on a narrated tour of Cape Girardeau and stop at the Crisp Museum. A part of the River Campus of Southeast Missouri State University, the museum features fine art exhibitions, prehistoric Native American artifacts, one of the largest collections of ceramic conch shell effigies in North America, and interpretive regional history displays. Upon arrival, watch a wonderful introductory film, followed by a museum tour, where you can view a life-sized replica of a Native American dwelling.

Let our local guide take you through the quaint city of Paducah. This tour has been carefully divided into three distinct sections to make sure you experience all that Paducah has to offer. First, tour the downtown as our local expert guide points out the areas’ many historical sites. Then, take a leisurely stroll along the riverfront where you will witness more than 50 life-sized panoramic murals depicting elements of Paducah’s past. End the tour at the National Quilt Museum, the world's largest museum devoted to quilt and fiber art.

Just a short distance from the ship’s docking location is the River Discovery Center, where guests learn about the Four Rivers region. Explore state-of-the-art interactive exhibits such as the working lock and dam model and the pilothouse simulator which allows you test your skills and captain your own riverboat!

After docking in the tranquil port of Henderson, our morning will begin with a short narrated walk to the famous John James Audubon Museum.  Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the museum features many original oil and watercolor paintings created by Audubon as well as many of his personal possessions. Your day will continue with the resident naturalist who will provide a narrated tour of the popular Nature Center, which was recently named one of the Top 25 Birdwatching Spots. At the conclusion of the tour, you will have free time for independent exploration.

Get a behind-the-scenes tour of the Churchill Downs, the site of the famed Kentucky Derby. Walk onto the track and to the Winner’s Circle and hear of the great horses who have raced here. Exhibits take you through the journey from the birth of a foal to the winner’s circle. There will be time to visit the museum and view the film The Greatest Race after the tour. 

Louisville Slugger is the maker of the world’s most popular bat. The company’s storied traditions and high standards for quality have produced some of the finest bats for amateurs and professionals alike. Take a guided tour of the facility and museum, learning first-hand their processes from forest-to-factory and the scientific principles used to fabricate the most important tool in “America’s Game.” Enjoy special seasonal exhibits and receive a free souvenir bat to commemorate your visit.

Bourbon enthusiasts will revel in a visit to the famous Jim Beam distillery. Celebrate “America’s First Family of Bourbon,” as you learn about their over 200 years of bourbon-making and view historic artifacts. Your private tour will include a visit to the home where three generations of Beam distillers lived. Step inside the Stillhouse Exhibit, which features an authentic 1800s copper still believed to be one of the oldest in America. Your tour will conclude in the rack house, where the bourbon is aged and the sampling begins. Visit the popular gift shop to purchase a variety of bourbons, bar ware, and other Jim Beam merchandise. 

Explore both sides of the river on this fantastic, all-encompassing tour. Highlights include the floodwall murals, downtown river district, St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, and Eden Park. Built in 1933, Krohn Conservatory lies in the heart of Eden Park. This art deco building is architecturally significant, but it is the contents inside the aluminum and glass walls that make it truly special, as it is home to more than 5,000 varieties of exotic, tropical, desert, and orchid plants from around the world.

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center celebrates the brave men and women who came together to create a secret network through which the enslaved could escape to freedom. Their example of courage, cooperation, and perseverance, is relevant to this day, as we continue to deal with contemporary issues of equality and diversity. 

Step back in time while you tour the historic town of Old Washington, Kentucky. Starting at the 1790s Visitor Center, your costumed tour guide will lead you through this historic Kentucky village, taking you along flagstone sidewalks graced with authentic frontier log cabins and early 19th-century homes. This two-hour walking tour will include stops at the Simon Kenton Shrine, Albert Sidney Johnston House, and the Harriett Beecher Stowe Slavery to Freedom Museum.

Enjoy the small town charm of historic Maysville, during this narrated tour. Begin at the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center, which brings the stories of explorers, artists, and movie stars to life through award-winning dioramas and its collection of historic artifacts. Next, visit the historic Russell Theater a true piece of the town’s history. The tour will conclude at the Cox Building which was built in 1886 and features Richardson Romanesque architecture. 

Tour two of Marietta’s greatest treasures: the Campus Martius Museum and the Ohio River Museum. The Campus Martius Museum features exhibits focusing on America’s migration out West and Marietta’s earliest native inhabitants. At the Ohio River Museum, discover the golden age of the steamboat and learn about the ecology of the Ohio River system 

Tour this beautifully preserved, 1855 Gothic-Revival house which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Castle was once home to some of Marietta's most prominent citizens and the site of many prestigious functions. Hear fascinating stories about its history and learn about of one of the oldest regions in the Northwest Territory.