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All the United States Florida Key Largo The African Queen

The African Queen

The famous boat that once ferried Bogart and Hepburn still floats in Key Largo after being abandoned for years.

Key Largo, Florida

Added By
Luke Spencer
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The ship is available to sail out into the Atlantic.   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
The African Queen   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
The African Queen   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Humphrey Bogart’s tipple of choice.   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
The original African mahogany.   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Front of boat   needcnow / Atlas Obscura User
Back of boat   needcnow / Atlas Obscura User
Over boat   needcnow / Atlas Obscura User
  jlord7 / Atlas Obscura User
  Runawaydc / Atlas Obscura User
One of the boilers used on the African Queen is inside the the Holiday Inn.   IronQueen / Atlas Obscura User
African Queen   ForestAppel / Atlas Obscura User
  wisemand / Atlas Obscura User
Easy to spot!  
  wisemand / Atlas Obscura User
  wisemand / Atlas Obscura User
Take a cruise? LOL   arc459 / Atlas Obscura User
  arc459 / Atlas Obscura User
  Runawaydc / Atlas Obscura User
  michaelamiller / Atlas Obscura User
  jlord7 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Immortalized in the 1951 movie of the same name, The African Queen was actually abandoned before being randomly discovered and refurbished into a working tour boat.

The iconic boat used in the 1951 John Huston film The African Queen, starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn was not purposely built for the film, but had actually seen service in the Belgian Congo since the 1910's. The riveted steel ship struck an iconic profile with its vertical boiler, which was a rare feature. The craft was actually being used to carry cargo, missionaries, and hunting parties when John Huston saw it while on a hunting trip and decided it would make the perfect vessel for a film. After it was made famous by its appearance in the aforementioned film, the boat returned to its regular service, but was abandoned sometime in the 1960s.

In 1968 it was discovered half sunk in Cairo, Egypt, and it was towed back to the United States for restoration. Since 1982, the boat has been made seaworthy and resides in Key Largo, Florida. Today it lies hidden amongst rows of millionaires' yachts, having been lovingly restored by its new captain. It is now available for short chartered cruises out into the Atlantic, although you will have to bring your own classic Bogart/Hepburn banter. 

Related Tags

Boats Film Film Locations Ships Shipwrecks

Community Contributors

Added By

Luke J Spencer

Edited By

relizh, arc459, michaelamiller, wisemand...

  • relizh
  • arc459
  • michaelamiller
  • wisemand
  • jlord7
  • needcnow
  • IronQueen
  • ForestAppel
  • mandofd13
  • Runawaydc

Published

February 18, 2014

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Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Queen_(boat)
  • http://africanqueenflkeys.com/index.html
The African Queen
U.S. Hwy 1 at Mile Marker 100
Holiday Inn Docks
Key Largo, Florida, 33037
United States
25.095572, -80.438286
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Underwater Hotel in Key Largo

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miles away

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Photo of Key Largo

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Underwater Hotel in Key Largo

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USS Spiegel Grove Shipwreck

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