In the 1950s, a trip aboard the Memphis Queen II offered a different view of Memphis—one seen from the water. Passengers gathered on open decks, listened to music, shared meals and watched the city skyline drift past from the Mississippi River.
Built in 1955 by the Dubuque Boat and Boiler Works in Iowa for Captain E. B. “Ed” Langford and Memphis Excursion Lines, the Memphis Queen II represented a newer generation of excursion vessels. Its all-steel construction and diesel power were modern for the period, while its appearance recalled the riverboats long associated with travel along the Mississippi.
Life aboard the Memphis Queen was as much about the experience as the destination.
In 1960, Captain Tom Meanley purchased Memphis Excursion Lines from Langford. What began as a seasonal operation developed into the family business that became known as the Memphis Queen Line. The Memphis Queen II was altered over the following years to accommodate additional passengers, including the relocation of its wheelhouse to a newly created third level in 1964.
The Memphis Queen II remained closely connected to the Memphis riverfront for decades. In 2006, the vessel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its place in the history of passenger excursion boats on the Mississippi.
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