Passengers walk up the waterfront on Wednesday morning at the Marietta Levee after getting off the American Heritage paddlewheeler. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

A paddlewheeler visited Marietta Wednesday, bringing with it passengers from all over.

The American Heritage stopped in Marietta Wednesday as part of American Cruise Lines’ 16-day Grand Ohio River Cruise.

The boat left St. Louis, Mo., July 12, and will end in Pittsburgh, Pa., on July 26, according to American Cruise Lines’ Public Relations Manager Alexa Paolella.

She previously told The Times’ that the Cruise can travel either direction, sometimes leaving from St. Louis and other times leaving from Pittsburgh.

According to American Cruise Lines’ website, the American Heritage first set sail in 2015.

Passengers disembark from the American Heritage paddlewheeler Wednesday morning at the Marietta Levee. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

Maryland resident Toni Vargo and her husband Robert were passengers on the cruise and Toni Vargo was one of the first passengers off the boat Wednesday morning.

“This is our first river cruise,” she said. “I love it, it is so different than an ocean cruise.”

According to American Cruise Line’s website, when passengers disembark in Marietta they have their choice of complimentary tours: a trip to the Castle Historic House Museum; a Marietta Local Loop Excursion which involves a visit to the Campus Martius Museum and the Children’s Toy and Doll Museum; a guided walking tour of Marietta’s Earthworks; a Harmar Heritage walk that shows off Fort Harmar and the Henry Fearing House; and a guided exploration of Mound Cemetery.

Vargo said she and her husband were going on the earthworks tour Wednesday morning and visiting the Children’s Toy and Doll Museum Wednesday afternoon.

She hadn’t seen much of Marietta yet on Wednesday morning, but Vargo said “at first glance it’s very nice. The water’s beautiful.”

The American Heritage paddlewheeler sits docked at the Marietta Levee Wednesday morning. The boat visited Marietta as one of its stops on American Cruise Lines’ 16-day Grand Ohio River Cruise that is sailing from St. Louis, Mo., to Pittsburgh, Pa. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Deana Clark previously told The Times the boat cruises give an added boost to museums and passengers walk around town and shop. She also said the cruises coming to Marietta bring boat viewers to town.

Marietta resident Aimee Doak was one of the people getting a look at the American Heritage Wednesday morning.

She said she was getting coffee Wednesday morning when she noticed the boat and she decided to come down to the waterfront to see it and drink her coffee.

“It’s beautiful, “ she said. “Look at it.”

Doak said when she was a child she would come with her family to see boats stopping in Marietta.

The American Heritage paddlewheeler sits docked at the Marietta Levee Wednesday morning. The boat visited Marietta as one of its stops on American Cruise Lines’ 16-day Grand Ohio River Cruise that is sailing from St. Louis, Mo., to Pittsburgh, Pa. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

“So when one comes to town it’s nice to relive the memories,” she said.

A CVB employee was present to greet boat passengers when they reached the street from the levee.

According to Clark, the CVB greets every boat that comes to Marietta.

The American Heritage planned to leave Marietta at 11 p.m. Wednesday and its next stop was Moundsville, W.Va., according to Paolella.

Paolella stated earlier this month that the number of American Cruise Lines’ boat stops in Marietta will increase next year from eight in 2024 to 14 in 2025.