According to Wikipedia, the history of the Chautauqua Belle is as follows: "Originally financed and built by Captain James Webster, the vessel was constructed on site in Mayville, New York, between 1974 and 1976. The Chautauqua Belle was launched in 1976 as part of Chautauqua County's celebration of the United States Bicentennial.
The Chautauqua Belle is one of only five operating authentic passenger sternwheel steamboats left in all of North America. The other four vessels are the Virginia V, in Seattle, Washington; Minne-Ha-Ha at Lake George, New York, operating on Lake George; the Belle of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky, operating on the Ohio River; and the Natchez in New Orleans, Louisiana, operating on the Mississippi River.
The Chautauqua Belle and the Natchez were designed by the naval architect Captain Alan Bates of Louisville, Kentucky."
She's been a beautiful feature here in Mayville. My beloved and I took the tour a few years back, unfortunately, the lake was choppy that day, and my motion sickness flared, so I couldn't enjoy the scenery tour as expected. The costs of the tours and funds to keep the Belle going each year. With launches happening around Memorial Day and the docking sometime in October.
