The first steamboats were demonstrated in1787. They were used on the river ways to bring cargo, cotton, sugar, and people to their destinations. The steamboat played a major part in the population growth. The steamboats were usually made of wood and were all kinds of sizes. They looked like giant floating houses with large smokestacks and paddlewheels. They were used for carrying people and supplies up and down the river.

Steamboats were later used as show boats for entertainment. The purchase of Louisiana in 1803 made New Orleans a part of the U.S. and opened the door to gamblers. The high life so popular in New Orleans spread north which ushered in the era of the riverboat gambler. By 1820, 69 steamboats were operating the western rivers. And by 1860, that number had increased to 735. These steamboats were christened "floating palaces with luxurious quarters, world class food well stoked bars and wealthy passengers. In1937 riverboat travel entered th

Today there are just a few steamboats remaining on the Mississippi River. The Delta Queen Steamship Company has been apart of the New Orleans scenery since the founding family sold it in 1958. This company moved its headquarters and renovated an old wharf on the riverfront that had been vacant for years. In 1990, the Delta Queen and the Mississippi Queen represented the last pair of steamboats to transport passengers the length of the Mississippi. This trip normally takes 10 days ending up in the port of New Orleans. Today if you would like to take a ride on a paddle wheeler, Natchez steamboat in New Orleans is the company that provides these nostalgic cruises. Today the Natchez Steamboat cruises three times a day, seven days a week. It is called "the race horse of the western waters" because it has never lost a race to another steamboat. It leaves from the Toulouse Street wharf for two-hour cruises on the Mississippi. It is one of only five surviving paddle wheelers cruising the Mississippi River system. It carries over half a million passengers a year.

In 1990, gambling and steamboats became intertwined and opened up a whole new arena for cruise ships in Louisiana. As more states adopted gambling the past glory of the river boat has returned and millions flock to try there luck on these vessels. Today we have riverboat gambling in Shreveport and Baton Rouge as well as New Orleans. Unlike the past, today's riverboat gambling is tightly controlled by each state. On these river cruises there is no set limit on betting and gambling is done on a var

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Approximate Word count = 1060
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)