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Photo courtesy of David Hawley
Arabia Steamboat Museum
Type: History Museums, Museums
10Best Says
Kitchen spices and farm implements, fine porcelain and French perfume are several artifacts that provide an intriguing glimpse of frontier life during 1856, from the Arabia Steamboat. Inside this... Read More
Kitchen spices and farm implements, fine porcelain and French perfume are several artifacts that provide an intriguing glimpse of frontier life during 1856, from the Arabia Steamboat. Inside this privately-owned museum, beautiful exhibits display cargo slated for 16 towns, which sank in the Missouri River when an embedded walnut tree trunk ripped through the steamboat's hull. More than a century after the River changed course Bob Hawley, his sons David and Greg, and family friends, David Luttrell and Jerry unearthed this enormous vessel from a farm field. Learn about the Arabia excavation during a short movie and you perhaps meet one of these modern-day explorers during Q&A. Visitors can also glimpse of real magic, as preservationists in a windowed lab restore additional items to their original beauty.
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Hours:
- Mon-Sat: 10am-5pm
- Sun: Noon-5pm
Admissions:
- Adult $14.50; Senior (60+) $13.50; Child (4-14) $5.50; Child (0-3) Free
EXPERT TIPS BY:
Lisa Waterman Gray
Kansas City Local Expert
- Museums: "Watch for updates regarding current and future 'treasure hunts' by the dedicated explorers who unearthed the Arabia Steamboat. Their most recent find? Steamboat Malta, which sank more than 170 years ago. This story is only beginning."
- Best Attractions & Activities: "To fully appreciate the magnitude of the excavation and restoration efforts that preceded creation of this fascinating museum, plan to spend at least several hours here. Well-informed docents and a pleasant layout will make your visit even more memorable."
- Best for Museums Because: Very few museums-anywhere-offer such a poignant look at this country's Western migration and the challenges associated with it.
- Recommended as Best Attractions & Activities Because: It's rare to find such an impressive, privately owned museum where the founders still interact daily with visitors.
