Stumbled across an iconic piece of movie history last week

So my wife and i occasonally drive to the Florida Keys to get some R&R every few weeks.
Last week she decided she wanted to go on a glass bottom boat tour.
So we drove to key largo, and went to the docks right next to a hotel. As we're walking towards the glass bottom boat I see a small old bout about 15 ft long suspended above the water in the process of being restored.
Instantly I recognized the boat...But I was hard pressed to believe that such a movie icon would be found in a rinky dink out-of-the-way place.

There was no glass case, no area roped off...It was right next to the dock just suspended there.
As we ran inside to get out tickets before the boat left we I noticed that inside the lobby of the hotel was a display with the original iconic engine of the boat as well.
At this point I thought that it might be a replica, but yesterday I heard on the radio that the boat was finally restored and ready to be displayed, and will even used for small tours..The location of the restoration given on the radio was indeed the place we were at in the keys.
I figured you guys would would get a kick out of this so I took some pics -

What a cool surprise!

SmilingOtter said:

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What a cool surprise!

Yup.....And me being into props and all that.

From what I heard, the unveiling of the restored african queen yesterday was attended by Bogey and Bacall's son, Stephen Bogart -

Story - The African Queen sets sail again - Celebrity Circuit - CBS News

Oh man. I would love to actually cruise in that thing.

As Rose said, "Now that I've had a taste of it I don't wonder why you love boating".

Oh wow. This gave me actual shivers! I love that film, my mum put me onto it when I was a kid, I was SO SAD when the AQ rammed the cruiser, lol.

Had no idea the boat had survived filming. Wow. My mum would have loved this, she was a huge Bogey fan.

PS thanks for posting this!!

Nwerke said:

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PS thanks for posting this!!

No problem, I figured some members would appreciate it.

I'm still surprised that it was just sitting there...no one around.
I managed to rummage around inside it for a bit. Lol

That is so great! One of my favorite movies (and an excellent book as well) Thanks for sharing the pics

Wow great to hear she is still around AND still able to go out

I suppose there was no chance of you getting a picture of you standing in it, huh?

Well I didn't actually stand in it, I just leaned on it and rummaged around through some of the junk that was in there.