Nautica Queen Cruise (5/30/2015)

Saturday, May 30, 2015
Despite the threat of thunderstorms, we drove down to the Cleveland Flats to take a special cruise for Media Insider Rewards members (i.e., we subscribe to the Plain Dealer newspaper).
We were early and checked out the Powerhouse, which was built by Marcus Hanna to to generate power for his own electric streetcar line; the Woodland & West Side Street Railway Co. (W&WSSR). Now it is a mixed use entertainment complex that includes the Greater Cleveland Aquarium.

Powerhouse (1892, designed by John N Richardson)

Leftover from a Rib Cook-off,
there were several Post-Its for the Cavs in the Finals!

The Nautica Queen (1981)

A cruise on the Nautica Queen includes a buffet meal (luncheon for us) with coffee, tea, and iced tea, a DJ with music and dancing, and some narration of the sights along the way. Depending on the weather and river traffic, they either cruise on Lake Erie, in the harbor within the breakwater, or along the Cuyahoga River. Because of the weather, we assumed we would be cruising on the river.

Work on the Main Avenue/Harold H. Burton Memorial Bridge (1939)

Main Avenue/Harold H. Burton Memorial Bridge

Lo and behold, we turned around and headed out onto Lake Erie where it ended up being sunny and clear.

Cuyahoga River Bridge No 1/The Iron Curtain
(1956, designed by Howard Needles Tammen & Bergendoff)

We were one of the first to be sent to the buffet tables. We dined on rather good food as the boat traveled along the Lake Erie shore to the west.

Cleveland Bulk Terminal on Whiskey Island
with iron ore loader system

Cleveland skyline viewed from the west

Lake Erie skyline

We passed Edgewater Park, then turned around when we reached some highrise buildings (Lakewood, OH).

Kent and Bob W

The clouds over Cleveland

Cleveland Harbor Main Entrance Light,
formerly West Pierhead Lighthouse (1900);
listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983

Cleveland Harbor East Breakwater Lighthouse (1909-1910)

After entering the harbor, we followed the Lake Erie shore to the east within the breakwater.

Container cargo ships

FirstEnergy Stadium/Home of the Cleveland Browns (1997-1999)

Center front is the Great Lakes Science Center (1996)
with 1925 Steamship William G Mather

Cleveland City Hall (1911-1916, designed by J Milton Dyer)

US Army Corps of Engineers

We maneuvered close to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, and then the US Coast Guard Station.

US Coast Guard Station

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
(1993-1995, designed by I M Pei)

USS Cod Submarine (1942-1943) Memorial 

Burke Lakefront Airport (1946-1947,
with later additions and renovations)

We headed into the Cuyahoga River.

The old Coast Guard Station (1940),
listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976

We passed the Nautica Queen landing and kept going up the river!

Part of the Detroit-Superior Bridge/
Veterans Memorial Bridge (1914-1918)
that has a lower deck formerly for streetcars

1976 replica of the Lorenzo Carter Cabin (1797)
of Cleveland's first permanent settler

Detroit Superior Bridge mural of Ohio City
(2008-2009, by Katherine Chilcote)

Montana Flour Mills-
Fairchild Mills Division Company Mill

The Nautica Queen turned around at the Columbus Street Bridge.

Columbus Road Lift Bridge (1940,
designed by Cleveland engineer Wilbur Watson,
bridge replaced 2013-2014)

Passed back under the Cleveland Union Terminal
(now Terminal Tower) Viaduct Bridge (1929-1935),
used by the RTA Red Line trains

The Center Street Bobtail-type Swing Bridge (1901)
starting to open

Center Street Swing Bridge fully open

Center Street Swing Bridge swinging back

Jacobs Pavilion (1987) concert venue

Former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
bascule or jackknife bridge

It had been getting dark as we returned along the Cuyahoga River to the Nautica Queen landing. The moment we docked, the skies opened up with pouring rain! We got wet running to the car, but we had been very fortunate with the weather during the cruise!
That evening, we had severe thunderstorm warnings and then flash flood warnings!