A Steamboat’s Signature: The Nameboard of the Delta Queen
By Jessica Rickman, Certified Personal Property Appraiser
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Recently, I attended The Nashville Show, a prominent annual antiques show in Middle Tennessee. There, I had the opportunity to examine an original 1927 wooden nameboard from the Delta Queen, the last surviving steam-powered overnight passenger boat on the Mississippi River. At almost 10 feet long, with its unique shape and carved lettering, this nameboard remains a stunningly rare and recognizable piece of maritime history.
History
Construction of the Delta Queen commenced in 1924 in Dumbarton, Scotland. Final assembly in Stockton, California, was completed in 1927. Originally, the Delta Queen provided passenger service on the Sacramento River in California. In 1940, she was purchased by the Isbrandtsen Steamship Lines to serve on the Mississippi River out of New Orleans. During World War II, she was requisitioned by the United States Navy, painted completely gray, and served on San Francisco Bay to transport wounded soldiers from ocean-going ships to area hospitals.
After the war, the Delta Queen was purchased by the Greene Line of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1948, she began regular passenger operations, navigating the Ohio, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Cumberland Rivers, connecting Cincinnati, New Orleans, St. Paul, Chattanooga, Nashville, and intermediate ports.
At least three United States Presidents have sailed on the Delta Queen: Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman, and Jimmy Carter.
In 1970, the Delta Queen was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1989, she was designated a National Historic Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior.
Description and Analysis
This nameboard is original to the Delta Queen. As evidenced by photographs, one nameboard was mounted on the front of the wheelhouse, with two additional nameboards on either side of the wheelhouse.
Dimensions: 117.5” long x 14” tall x 2” thick
Composition: Stained wood construction with carved lettering outlined with white waterproof marine paint. The wood has not been forensically analyzed, but based on its appearance and weight, it is almost certainly teak. Teak is a traditional choice for high-quality nameboards, especially on luxury or historically significant vessels, and is highly resistant to rotting, warping, cracking, and pests, making it ideal for nameboards exposed to sun, rain, and sea spray. The nameboard maintains all six original mounting holes.
Condition: Stain and paint appear to be original with no signs of repair or rework. Wood carries expected weathering and wear consistent with age and outdoor service.
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Provenance
We can verify from dated period photographs that some of the Delta Queen’s nameboards were removed in the 1980s or early 1990s during a renovation. An ornate eagle name board was added at this time to the front of the wheelhouse.
Fortunately, the beautiful Delta Queen has been photographed thousands of times over its almost 100-year history. The nameboard remains in weathered good condition, and is easily identifiable from sample photographs, as early as the 1930s. Additionally, the Delta Queen is probably the most recognizable steamboat in the world, having served over an estimated one million passengers during her lifetime.
The nameboard is verifiable by eyewitnesses and was extremely popular during The Nashville Show. In fact, while I was conducting my examination, several people walked by and said that they recognized it from their own past voyage on the Delta Queen. One couple even photographed themselves with it to recreate their own photo taken during their wedding anniversary when she was docked in Chattanooga.
Determination of Appraised Value
I could not locate any records where a nameboard for the Delta Queen has ever come up for auction. Surviving similar nameboards of historic vessels as famous as the Delta Queen are extremely difficult to find. Being in private collections or museums, they rarely come up for sale.
For such a unique historical item lacking comparable market data, it is best to rely on the opinions of experts to provide estimated values based on their knowledge. Following extensive research and consultations with fellow appraisers as well as a nautical antiques auction house, I estimate the auction value of this nameboard to be around $15,000. At the right auction on the right day, I believe it could bring upwards of $25,000, an appropriate value for such a “Queen.”
It was an exciting experience to evaluate and appraise such a clearly recognizable piece of history. I, for one, hope that the Delta Queen’s nameboard eventually finds its forever home in the right museum or private collection where it can be preserved and appreciated for many generations to come.
Note: The value expressed herein is based on the appraiser’s best judgment and
opinion for entertainment purposes only as of August 26, 2025, and is not a
representation or warranty that the described item would realize that value should
it be offered for sale at auction or otherwise, nor is it a guarantee of authenticity.
Jessica Rickman is an accomplished antiques and collectibles expert, bringing over a decade of experience as a dealer and certified personal property appraiser based in Nashville, Tennessee. With a degree from Belmont University and specialized training from the Asheford Institute of Antiques, Jessica combines academic rigor with a deep passion for preserving history through procuring unique historical items. For inquiries, connect with her via email at jessica@antiques615.com or Instagram, @antiques615.
