Steamboat Arabia MuseumThe Arabia was headed up the Missouri River in 1856 when the steamboat struck an undetected tree snag below water level and sank just north of Kansas City. The river changed course over time, leaving the boat – and 200 tons of merchandise and supplies – buried beneath a cornfield and preserved in cold mud. The side-wheel steamer carried a small number of passengers, and all survived. The goods had been destined for settlers seeking wares at frontier stores and trading posts. When the Arabia was uncovered in 1988, its cargo of china, hardware, jewelry, clothing, leather boots and other items was found in excellent condition. See the goods displayed at the Arabia Steamboat Museum, which houses a full-scale replica of the 171-foot boat deck along with its world-class collection of pre-Civil War artifacts. And learn how the sunken boat was unearthed in a film depicting the excavation and restoration of the Arabia. |
