The Arabia Steamboat Museum gives locals a unique look into Kansas City’s history
Editor’s Note: This is story is part of “Kansas City: Like a Local,” a series where Kansas Citians recommend their favorite things to do in our region. It’s part of our Guide to the City of Fountains, get the guide delivered to your inbox by signing up here!
Kansas City is one of the last places you’d ever think to find sunken treasure, but the story of the Arabia Steamboat Museum tells us otherwise.
In 1856, the Steamboat Arabia got snagged on a tree and sank in the Missouri River right outside of Kansas City, taking down with it 200 tons of supplies that were headed to the frontier. In 1988, the ship was discovered and excavated by Bob Hawley and his sons, David Hawley and Greg Hawley along with Jerry Mackey and David Luttrell.
The ship and its cargo were buried in mud and didn’t see light nor oxygen for over 130 years. As a result, many of the Pre-Civil War artifacts were extremely well preserved. Among its vast collection (it’s the largest of its kind in the world) you’ll find pristine plate sets, cast iron pots and pans, tools, clothing and other materials one would need for their homesteads. The artifacts that cause the most buzz at the museum are the pickles and pie fruits still corked and preserved in their jars.
When Morgan Nicole Brooks recommended on Instagram that we check out The Arabia Steamboat Museum because it “is very underrated,” the team at The Kansas City Star knew it would be an excellent spot to cover in our Guide to the City of Fountains.
The museum, located in the River Market, is a favorite among Kansas City locals. For anyone new to town or visiting, it’s an engaging education in local history.
The museum is like a time capsule, allowing visitors to get a look inside what everyday life looked like for settlers on the frontier. The longer you peruse the walls of ornate dishes, rooms of boots and clothing, and cabinets filled with over 150-year-old jars of food, the more stories emerge.
There to help share the stories are preservationists who are working onsite, the friendly staff, and even the owner, David Hawley, who is eager to tell you what it’s like to be a real life treasure hunter.
To learn more about the Steamboat Arabia Museum watch Kansas City Like a Local: The Arabia Steamboat Museum. You’ll hear from Hawley about some of the most historically important objects you’ll find at the museum and you’ll even hear a story about how someone on the dig team sampled one of those over 130 year old pickles!
