The American Queen Adventure Day 3

 Today was a rather relaxing one. New Madrid is a rickety little ole town so there isn’t much to see. It has quite a history though. 200 years ago it was the epicenter of an earthquake so tremendous that church bells vibrated as far north as Toronto. A steam boat called ‘The New Orleans’ was nearby and passengers witnessed geysers of mud shooting out of fields, collapsing banks and part of the river actually changed direction and flowed north because of the seismic shift.

Needless to say, there isn’t much to see in a fault line! But we did tour a lovely antebellum house. Built in 1860 the Hunter-Dawson house was home to a family of local store owners.

The wife trekked to Saint Louis and bought piles of rococo and Italianate furniture that never left the house. The family sold it to the city in 1966 and here it sits. I love the petticoat closet! And the husbands room is mighty handsome. Rod went gaga over the hyper-patterned wallpaper and carpet.

           
                                                                   (Petticoats!)

After touring the home we went back to the boat, had lunch, and then I worked a bit in the Gentleman’s Card Room overlooking the bow of the boat.

                                                                        (The Calliope!)

                                            (Stacks down so we can squeeze under a bridge)

Then came the now comical routine of the evening- dinner at 5:15 followed by lounge show, floor show and engine room night cap (at 9:15!).

Quote of the night from the lounge singer:
“Why don’t y’all take a Fats Waller of your cocktail!” Get it? 

The highlight was ‘Mr. Banjo’ - Mike Gentry. Everyone knows I am fiending  for my own banjo so I was twitterpatted to catch his act. He is everything. Gentry has the white, waxed mustache, his banjo is 24 carat gold with ebony on the neck and pearl on the peg head. He played ‘dueling banjos’ with the pianist, which was awesome. Sadly, there was no ‘Rainbow Connection’ but he didn’t disappoint in the talent arena. 

                                                    Tomorrow is Memphis and ELVIS!