The Queen isn’t a monarch—she’s a boat. A moving landmark, carrying the spirit of Okoboji. But her story is anything but smooth sailing.

episode summary

episode summary

tales
from the
iowa great
lakes

Most episodes of The Okoboji Project explore people, places, or traditions in The Iowa Great Lakes. But we've never focused on a single artifact.

Then again, The Queen—and her successor, The Queen II—are icons. And the images below show why.

Our story begins at the BCR&N train station overlooking the grand Orleans Hotel on Big Spirit Lake. (We'd love to do a whole episode on this magnificent place someday. There's so much to share!) The hotel commissioned the wood graving in 1883 (the same year The Queen launched) to celebrate the hotel's opening. It captures the resort's early splendor in striking detail.

Not long after, The Queen made her famous migration to West Lake, thanks to the handy Henderson Brothers. The aerial shot of the Okoboji Boat Works shows where she was repaired before becoming a staple of West Lake life. You can even spot another steamer tied up on the right side of the Boat Works. These boats once defined transportation on the lake. But even from behind, The Queen stands apart.

As we move into the 20th century, the photos shift and, of course, The Queen remains. We have several iconic images of her sailing across West Lake. (Email us if you can name the bays and points she's passing!) It's fascinating to watch how she evolves—and how much stays the same. As we say in the episode: she's always on the lake, and when she's not, people notice.

We also get a glimpse of the State Pier's steam landing—its docks, shoreline, and cars changing over time. But still, The Queen remains.

In the 1950s, Iowa Navy Days brought celebration and spectacle to the region. One of our favorite photos comes from Emma's family archive: her grandmother, Charlene, was crowned the first Iowa Navy Day Queen in 1955. The pageant was just one of many events honoring The Queen as the Flagship of the Iowa Great Lakes.

Later, The Queen's journey took a strange turn. We recommend checking out Adventureland's blog for the full story of her move to Altoona, complete with tracks, an artificial lake, and a short-lived third act.

Of course, that brings us to The Queen II, built as a faithful replica and launched with love and precision under the guidance of Captain Steve Kennedy. Today, she continues to sail thanks to a dedicated team and a community that consistently shows up.

And for a modern glimpse? Don't miss our drone footage of The Queen II in action, gliding across the lake just as her predecessor once did.

Long may she sail. Long live The Queen.

episode info

Most episodes of The Okoboji Project explore people, places, or traditions in The Iowa Great Lakes. But we've never focused on a single artifact.

Then again, The Queen—and her successor, The Queen II—are icons. And the images below show why.

Our story begins at the BCR&N train station overlooking the grand Orleans Hotel on Big Spirit Lake. (We'd love to do a whole episode on this magnificent place someday. There's so much to share!) The hotel commissioned the wood graving in 1883 (the same year The Queen launched) to celebrate the hotel's opening. It captures the resort's early splendor in striking detail.

Not long after, The Queen made her famous migration to West Lake, thanks to the handy Henderson Brothers. The aerial shot of the Okoboji Boat Works shows where she was repaired before becoming a staple of West Lake life. You can even spot another steamer tied up on the right side of the Boat Works. These boats once defined transportation on the lake. But even from behind, The Queen stands apart.

As we move into the 20th century, the photos shift and, of course, The Queen remains. We have several iconic images of her sailing across West Lake. (Email us if you can name the bays and points she's passing!) It's fascinating to watch how she evolves—and how much stays the same. As we say in the episode: she's always on the lake, and when she's not, people notice.

We also get a glimpse of the State Pier's steam landing—its docks, shoreline, and cars changing over time. But still, The Queen remains.

In the 1950s, Iowa Navy Days brought celebration and spectacle to the region. One of our favorite photos comes from Emma's family archive: her grandmother, Charlene, was crowned the first Iowa Navy Day Queen in 1955. The pageant was just one of many events honoring The Queen as the Flagship of the Iowa Great Lakes.

Later, The Queen's journey took a strange turn. We recommend checking out Adventureland's blog for the full story of her move to Altoona, complete with tracks, an artificial lake, and a short-lived third act.

Of course, that brings us to The Queen II, built as a faithful replica and launched with love and precision under the guidance of Captain Steve Kennedy. Today, she continues to sail thanks to a dedicated team and a community that consistently shows up.

And for a modern glimpse? Don't miss our drone footage of The Queen II in action, gliding across the lake just as her predecessor once did.

Long may she sail. Long live The Queen.

episode info

episode info

episode source material

episode source material

  • Interviews with Jon Pausley, CEO of Historic Arnolds Park, and Rory Marra, Captain of The Queen II
  • A History of Dickinson County by R.A. Smith, 1902
  • “Smoke Over the Waters of the Iowa Great Lakes” by R. Aubrey LaFoy
  • “A Royal Journey Across Iowa” from Adventureland

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