8 Night Louisville to Pittsburgh Cruise and Land Tour from Louisville

Enjoy your complimentary stay at the pre-cruise hotel. The evening is yours to become acquainted with the city. For your convenience, American Queen Voyages Hospitality Desk will be located in the hotel, and the friendly staff can assist with everything from general questions about your upcoming voyage to reserving premium experiences. Representatives from AQV and a local port/city partner will be available to provide you with dining, entertainment, and sightseeing options to maximize your time here.

This authentically quirky port is a muse to artisans of mixed mediums - from sidewalk chalk to street fare, and home to cultural diversity that quickly captivates the heart of visitors. Named for King Louis XVI of France in appreciation for his assistance during the Revolutionary War, Louisville was founded by George Rogers Clark in 1778. While its initial growth was slow, the advent of the steamboat in the early 1800s sparked booming industrial development, and by 1830, Louisville had secured its place as the largest city in Kentucky. Visit the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, with its 120-foot statue that towers over the city. Order an old fashioned cocktail, according to local lore made better here than anywhere. The cocktail is made by muddling sugar with bitters and water, adding Bourbon, and garnishing with an orange slice or zest and a cocktail cherry. While Bourbon is a spirit that anchors the drink, it's also a "spirit" that defines the vibe Louisville - a city that combines authenticity with originality and heritage with innovation, in a way that's completely foreign to the South. From boundary pushing twists on Southern cuisine that made Louisville one of the "10 Best New Food Cities" in America to the one and only Urban Bourbon Experience, featuring the world's only, city-wide trail filled with micro-distilleries, exhibits, and craft cocktail destinations celebrating America's only native spirit. Other sites of interest include the legendary Churchill Downs - home of the Kentucky Derby, and the Muhammad Ali Center, the late boxer's hometown.

Tucked away between Cincinnati and Louisville is Madison, Indiana, a quaint river town rich in character. This charismatic port flaunts its personality throughout the streets, where a 133-block historic district showcases its collection of classic architectural artistry. Admire the antique machinery at the Schroeder House, or an example of fine craftsmanship at the Lanier Mansion State Historic Site. The downtown shopping district is a unique showcase of unbeatable hospitality, with each shop locally owned and operated. Madison's heritage is woven into every stop, ensuring a glimpse of beauty and history. Madison, Indiana, was founded in 1809 along the Ohio River. The city was bursting with commerce, had a very active steamboat port, and was home to Indiana's first railroad. Due to its unique location and transportation infrastructure, Madison was primed to be a link on the Underground Railroad. The neighborhood area known as "Georgetown" (which includes the African Methodist Episcopal Church) was designated in 2004 as the only Network to Freedom district. Four of the 11 sites listed for the Indiana Network to Freedom are in the Madison area. Construction began on the Madison Indianapolis & Lafayette Railroad in late 1836. It became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad system in 1921. The economic growth of Madison slowed. In 1924, the Chamber of Commerce of the City of Madison was established to aid business retention and expansion efforts. Madison now has the largest contiguous National Historic Landmark District in the country and features major architectural styles from the nineteenth and early twentieth century.

If there was ever a city built upon a river, it is Cincinnati. First the Ohio River and then the Erie Canal opened this fast-growing trade and transport center, with major manufacturing ports to the south and east. Like most early American settlements, Cincinnati began life as a trading post along the Ohio River. In 1802, it was formed as a village, later becoming a city in 1819. Two major events helped to shape its future - the arrival of steam navigation for boats along the Ohio River and the completion of the Miami and Erie Canal in 1827. The mid-1800s were the boom years and Cincinnati's population swelled due to easy access via the river and canal network. When the railroad finally made its way to Cincinnati in 1836, the city's trading prospects expanded even further. The Little Miami Railroad offered new access to Lake Erie's ports on Sandusky Bay, as well as another major river for navigation. The prosperity that followed allowed Cincinnati to build its first streetcar system and by 1872, the entire city was laid out for public transportation. Take a stroll through Cincinnati - the birthplace of baseball and its own distinctive chili recipe. Bound by the many parks; each district has its own personality, and you can meet them all - because the city's compact downtown is anchored to the river. As the expansive riverfront continues its facelift known as The Banks, it's apparent that Cincinnati's next chapter in history will be just as successful as its past ones.

The city of Maysville, Kentucky, boasts a picturesque downtown set on the banks of the Ohio River. Maysville's heightened passion for diversity of art and live entertainment proves that as long there is a story to be told, it will flourish. Its long-standing romance with opera is on display at the restored 1889 Washington Opera House. Maysville is also home to the Russell Theatre, where hometown-hero-turned-Hollywood-screen-star Rosemary Clooney hosted the red carpet premier for her film "The Stars are Singing" in 1953. Visual arts are celebrated with original exhibits by local artists in Maysville's galleries. The Kentucky Gateway Museum Center is home to the exquisite Kathleen Savage Browning Miniature Collection - a world-class exhibit of 1/12 scale miniatures created by master artisans. The museum is also home to the Old Pogue Experience. Today six generations of Pogues have and continue to produce the finest quality bourbon and rye whiskies. As one of the oldest Kentucky distilleries, Old Pogue prides itself on offering products that are never changed or compromised in character. An Old Fashioned may be in order to savor this potent potable in the place where bourbon began. Through preservation, two historic districts: Old Washington and Historic Downtown Maysville, continue to be home to a wonderful collection of historic buildings with diverse purposes. Both scenic gems offer a variety of highlights and Old Washington offers guided tours April through December. Celebrating a vivid past while embracing the future, Maysville is proud of its rich heritage.

Widely recognized for the 1967 collapse of the Silver Bridge, this sleepy river town became a focal point of paranormal enthusiasts in search of Mothman, a creature said to inhabit an abandoned TNT factory from World War II. Visitors can also learn tales of river life, great floods, boat construction, sternwheel steamers, river disasters, and the local industry's contribution to World War II at the Point Pleasant River Museum. A Shawnee village known as Upper Shawneetown was established here before 1749. In the second half of 1749, explorer Pierre Joseph Celoron de Blainville claimed French sovereignty over the Ohio Valley, burying a lead "Point Pleasant" plaque at the meeting point of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers. Celoron's expedition was a diplomatic failure since local tribes remained pro-British, and British representatives in the region refused to leave. This incident was the prelude to the ultimate expulsion of France from most of its possessions in North America. Just north of Point Pleasant is an eerie abandoned TNT facility opened during WWII. During the height of the war, the West Virginia Ordinance Works manufactured 500,000 pounds of TNT every day. The factory closed soon after the war ended, leaving the more than 8,000 acres it occupied to be repurposed for other uses. A portion of the land, 3,655 acres, was converted into the McClintic Wildlife Management Area used for hunting and fishing. But some weird and creepy hardscape was left behind - round clumps of trees evenly spaced with small drives connecting them to an unpaved road in front.

Known as the "Riverboat Town", Marietta is located at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers and is the oldest city in the state of Ohio. Because of its location along the river, Marietta grew quickly becoming a major trading center in the Northwest Territory. In 1811, as steamboats began to churn in America's rivers, Washington County entered a boom era, bolstered by settlers passing through, ship-building, and commerce. Since then, many historical sites have been beautifully preserved within Marietta and Washington County, reminding all residents and visitors that America's westward expansion began in this small but mighty, riverboat town. Marietta has blossomed into a political and cultural center. Visitors can enjoy stout mix of museums, walking tours, and historic sites to broaden the landscape of the mind. Shaded, hand-laid brick streets pervade its charm, and fringing them are dollhouse homes featuring stained glass, intricate woodwork, lofty towers, and ornate turrets. All that and more plays a vital role in the visual and spiritual pleasantries of this place. The past fuels the present, keeping pace and pushing forward with great food, eclectic shops, vibrant nightlife, and historic hotels. There is also an abundance of outdoor adventure to be found as two rivers, a National Forest, and a variety of parks, refuges, and wetlands surround the county. From spring through autumn, the Valley Gem Sternwheeler offers river cruises to visitors. The W. P. Snyder Jr., the only steam-powered sternwheel towboat still afloat in the United States, is moored behind the Ohio River Museum.

By the early 1880s, trade along the Ohio River made Wheeling a popular frontier town. After National Road - the nation's first roadway - was created by an Act of Congress, Wheeling became known as the "gateway to the west". Wheeling was established as a town in 1795 and incorporated in 1836 through a charter granted by the Virginia Assembly. Wheeling was loyal to the Federal Government during the Civil War and the State of West Virginia was born here. It was welcomed into the Union as a state on June 20, 1863. Wheeling was the capital of the newly formed state from 1863 to 1870 when it was moved to Charleston. Through an active industrial economy and large working population, Wheeling became the richest city per capita in America at the end of the 19th century. Iron and steel mills developed on the banks of the Ohio River. Other industries, including glass works and cigar factories, also flourished here. The manufacture of cut iron nails took off and soon Wheeling was known as the "nail capital of the world". This testament to earlier prosperity is evident today in the architecture of the beautiful mansions that line its street. Conveniently located in the northern panhandle, just 60 miles from Pittsburgh, Wheeling offers some big city attractions with a small city feel. Our riverboat will dock at Heritage Port. Nearby attractions include Moss Farms Winery, Victoria Theater, West Virginia Independence Hall Museum, and the Capitol Theatre, an Ohio Valley icon since 1928.

As your American Queen Voyages journey concludes, there are other opportunities for you to take in the town - whether it's an optional premier post-cruise experience or a quick transfer to the airport for your final trip home - your AQV team can pre-arrange everything for you.