The General Jackson Showboat is named after the first steamboat to operate on the Cumberland River in 1817. The showboat was launched in April 1985, and was christened on July 2, 1985. One of the largest showboats ever built, the grand General Jackson is an elegant triumph of American ingenuity. With its elegant lacy filigree and stately design, the boat is reminiscent of the opulence of the American Victorian era.