NEW MADRID, Mo. -- The bright red paddlewheel stirred through the water bringing the American Duchess, one of the newest riverboats to ply the Mississippi River, to shore. Tourists who stood on the decks watching the landing were soon making their way into New Madrid, visiting the town's historic sites, walking the brick path along the levee and taking in the small-town atmosphere.
The Duchess is the fourth riverboat now making New Madrid a port of call. Operated by the American Queen Steamboat Co., the Duchess joins the American Queen in making stops in the community as well as the Queen of the Mississippi and the America, both owned by American Cruise Lines.
According to New Madrid Chamber of Commerce Director Christina McWaters, the stop Thursday by the Duchess is one of 12 boat stops scheduled this year for New Madrid. The Queen of the Mississippi is slated to dock here Sunday.
"The people really enjoy the small-town feel. They love the personal attention they get when the come to New Madrid," McWaters said. "They think we are like Mayberry," she added with a laugh, referring to the "Andy Griffith Show."
The visitors come not from just across the United States but from around the world, McWaters said.
The Duchess, the Queen of the Mississippi and the America each bring from 130 to 150 visitors into the community while the larger American Queen carries as many as 430 passengers onboard. This year the town will be visited by some 2,383 riverboat passengers, compared to approximately 1,341 last year during six stops by the boats.
McWaters said the increase in boat stops is a boon to the town's tourism industry. Many of those getting off the boat will tour the New Madrid Historical Museum, the Higgerson School, the Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site and the Riverwalk Gallery. Some also make their way into local businesses during the stops, which typically are for three to four hours.
But it isn't just about tourism dollars, McWaters said.
"For me, what I am most proud of is the positive light New Madrid is seen in when they are here," she said. "They always comment to me that we have such a beautiful little town and it is so clean and that the people are friendly. We show these people a good time and they go back with a positive view of New Madrid."
Jeff Grunwald, director of the New Madrid Historical Museum, agreed, adding many of the visitors find the community exceeds their expectations.
"They realize they are coming to a small town and coming to small-town museum ... but when they look at the way we are set up, the size of our collection and the quality of the displays, the folks are surprised," he said.
The museum's exhibit on earthquakes and the New Madrid fault line is always a popular draw for visitors. Grunwald said many of those taking the riverboat tours that he meets are from Australia and New Zealand, which have their own trouble with earthquakes.
Grunwald estimated the riverboat travelers make up about 20 percent of the museum's attendance annually. Many of these visitors go back and tell others about the town and the museum, spreading the word and bringing more visitors to the community, he said.
"I think we are really lucky to have them," Grunwald said about the riverboats. "We are excited to show off our little town and people are really impressed. It is a nice day for all of them."