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North America – U.S.
Rollin’ on the River
Aboard the American Queen
Overview
Dates Nov 02 — Nov 08, 2008
Activity Level Moderately active
In November 2008, cruise from Vicksburg, Mississippi, to New Orleans, Louisiana, aboard the American Queen, the flagship of Mississippi River steamboats, exploring how the antebellum South, the Civil War, Southern politics, and the creativity of Southern musicians, artists, and chefs have shaped the culture of the states along both sides of the river. Visit battlefields where the Civil War took a crucial turn. Learn about the impact of the cotton industry at antebellum plantations. Experience Cajun and Creole cooking, the legends of the Delta bayous, and the poignant side of plantation life as expressed in the original Br’er Rabbit stories. And observe heartwarming examples of the indomitable American spirit in post-Katrina New Orleans.
To download a full brochure for this program, click the PDF button at the top right side of this page.
Map
Itinerary
- Day 1— Home / Vicksburg, Mississippi
- Day 2 — Vicksburg / Embark
- Day 3 — Natchez
- Day 4 — Baton Rouge, Louisiana / Cajun Country
- Day 5 — Oak Alley / Laura Plantation
- Day 6 — New Orleans
- Day 7 — New Orleans / Home
Highlights
Pre-Tour Extension
Optional Pre-Trip Extension: Memphis to Vicksburg
October 31 - November 3, 2008
Join the American Queen in Memphis for a three-day music and food extravaganza en route to Vicksburg. Visit the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi; the legendary B.B. King's birthplace in Indianola, Mississippi; and juke joints in small communities along the way. Dine on regional foods at local eateries such as actor Morgan Freeman's restaurant, and bask in the warmth of Southern hospitality. Every evening enjoy the toe-tapping music of jazz, blues bands, or jam sessions on board as we cruise down the Mississippi. Additional details will be provided to confirmed participants.
Program Leaders
A. Wilson Greene
A Wilson Greene is the executive director of Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier near Petersburg, Virginia. Mr. Greene served as the first president of the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites from 1990 to 1994. He also worked as a National Park Service historian at Fredericksburg National Military Park and Petersburg National Battlefield. His latest book is Petersburg, VA: 1861–1865: Confederate City in the Crucible of War.
John Meffert
John Meffert has a long history with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, serving in many capacities since 1978. In 1981, he was a member of the Trust’s Strategic Planning Committee. From 1982 to 1988, he was the director of the Trust’s Southern Office in Charleston, and also past director of the Preservation Society of Charleston, responsible for preserving historic Charleston. Currently, he is a principal with Heritage Consulting Services, an active lecturer on architecture, preservation and culture.
Steven F. Pond
Steven F. Pond is an associate professor in the Department of Music at Cornell University, where he teaches courses in ethnomusicology and in jazz, popular music and the music of the African Diaspora. He also offers specialized courses in American subcultural music, post-World War II jazz and rhythm-and-blues. His book, Head Hunters: The Making of Jazz’s First Platinum Album, was published in 2005.
Nick Salvatore
Nick Salvatore is a professor of American history in the interdisciplinary American Studies program in Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences, and the Maurice and Hinda Neufeld Founders Professor of Industrial and Labor Relations in Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. His biography of Reverend C. L. Franklin, Singing in a Strange Land: C. L. Franklin, the Black Church, and the Transformation of America, was published in 2005.
Sponsors
The Commonwealth Club
Cornell University Alumni Association
Smithsonian Journeys
University of California, Berkeley
Accommodations
Cruise Ship
The American Queen
The American Queen, the world’s largest sternwheel steamboat, transports 436 guests along the Mississippi River in a style that combines elegant surroundings, charming and comfortable accommodations, and friendly, attentive service. Finely appointed staterooms, many with private verandas, offer en suite facilities and individually controlled heat and air-conditioning. Public venues include the Grand Saloon, which resembles an opulent 19th-century opera house; the Mark Twain gallery, furnished with antiques and comfortable seating for reading; the covered “front porch,” lined with rocking chairs for leisurely viewing of the passing landscape; and the J.M. White Dining Room, reminiscent of luxurious 19th-century river travel.
Program Rates
Airfare
Domestic airfare to Jackson, Mississippi, with return from New Orleans, is not included in the program rates. High Country Passage is happy to assist you with your air travel arrangements.
Program Rates
From $3,745 per person, double occupancy; $6,335 single