Arabia Steamboat Museum -- Kansas City MO - History Museums on Waymarking.com

The Steamboat Arabia sank in the Missouri River in 1856.

In 1988 Bob, Greg, and Dave Hawley with their friends Jerry Mackey and David Luttrell finished months of painstaking research and pinpointed her resting place under a farmer's cornfield in Kansas! Over a 4 month period they salvaged everything they could, but soon found they could not bear to part with any of their treasures. When the artifacts overwhelmed their storage capabilities, they decided to open a museum and keep working on stabilizing and preserving the artifacts.

That work continues today, 35 years later.

The Steamboat Arabia artifacts constitute the largest trove of pioneer-era artifacts ever discovered. She was like a Wal-Mart of her era, carrying everything from elegant china to shoes, beads, buttons, axes, and perfumes. Bolts of cloth and jars of food (STILL EDIBLE!) were found aboard.

This museum is well worth a visit - the treasures are mind-blowing!

From the Visit KC website: (visit link)

"The Arabia Steamboat Museum is home to a true time capsule of frontier life in the 1800s. The Arabia was headed up the Missouri River in the fall of 1856 when she struck a tree snag and sank just north of Kansas City. Her cargo hold was full of 200 tons of supplies bound for general stores and pioneer settlements. As the years passed, the river changed course and left the Arabia buried beneath a Kansas cornfield. Finally, in 1988 a group of modern-day adventurers uncovered the lost Arabia and her magnificent cargo. They were amazed to find fine dishware, clothing, and even bottled food all preserved in remarkable condition. Their find has been called the King Tut's Tomb of the Missouri River. So, if you're looking for an adventure your whole family will enjoy, discover the treasures of the steamboat Arabia."

Theme: Cultural history -- the Steamboat Arabia was loaded with goods that were in high demand on the frontier. Its treasures are a look into pioneer life Street Address: 400 Grand Blvd Kansas City MO 64106 Food Court: no Gift Shop: yes Hours of Operation: Summer hours: Mon-Sat 10am-530pm Sun 12-5 Winter hours (January-March) Mon-Sat 10am-430pm Sun 12-5 Cost: 14.00 (listed in local currency) Museum Size: Small Relevant Web Site: [Web Link]

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