Arabia Steamboat Museum

Not exactly tiny, hidden artifacts .. The Arabia's anchor is a "fisherman" type anchor, an older style which holds well in rock and weeds but isn't particularly effective on other surfaces. And yes, the bar is supposed to be that shape even though it looks bent and off balance. It's a type not used much nowadays because the anchor is heavy and unwieldy, but in its day it was quite common. The capstan in front of the anchor is a mechanical winch would have wooden or metal bars (levers) which could be fitted into the drumhead (slots at the top). Capstans exponentially increase the ability of deck hands to haul heavy lines.

Kris Martinson recently created this wonderful likeness of the Arabia in wood(!) and gifted it to the museum. It is incredibly detailed and intricate. Kris retired from a career in dentistry and moved to Missouri from his lifelong home in California in 2018. For over 25 years he has been creating handmade art in wood using a scroll saw; including portraits, landscapes, seascapes, old west, and Hawaiian themes. You can find him on Facebook as Kris' Kreations Scroll Saw Art. Thank you, Kris!

Throw Back Thursday, Steamboat Arabia style: Do you recognize this little nook?

We are open this Saturday, but will close at 4:00 for Halloween. If you plan on visiting, it’s best to arrive by 2:30 so you have plenty of time to see the collection. Wishing you all lots of treats and no tricks!

While defrosting footwear from our freezer in preparation for preservation, we came across this lovely design on a decorative panel from a leather boot. The two swans in the middle would have been quite a fashion statement on the old frontier! #arabiasteamboatmuseum #museum #history #artifacts #preservation #visitkc #missouriadventure #missouritourism #rivermarketkc

Today’s lab project is sewing yet another of the shoes found on the Arabia. We’ve got 791 pairs on display currently, but it will be another three months before this one joins them. After sewing, it will soak in polyethylene glycol and be freeze dried. #arabiasteamboatmuseum #museum #preservation #history #visitkc #missouriadventure #missouritourism

The design on this brass button from the Arabia is quite modern! It’s even more impressive considering that the button measures just 1.5 centimeters in diameter.

Celebrating #internationalarchaeologyday with a look back at the Arabia’s excavation in the winter of 1988-89. In this aerial view, remnants of the boat’s two side paddlewheels are clearly visible, but can you spot the wagon wheels?

It’s a lovely autumn afternoon at the City Market.

Now on display: One of the dewatering pumps used to excavate the steamboat Arabia. During the four month dig, pumps worked constantly to lower the massive amount of groundwater in the field. They were capable of removing 20,000 of water per minute! And where did all that water go? The third photo shows a creek that ran through the field. It was lined with plastic to prevent erosion and the water wound its way to the Missouri River, half a mile away. The fourth photo shows the dig site after the pumps were turned off. The hole filled with water in just a couple of days and was then refilled with dirt.

The stencils on this cargo box from the Arabia give some intriguing clues about the boots found inside. There were 12 pairs in the box of various sizes, but all with 15 inch leg height. The box also indicated that the soles of the boots were painted white and as you can see in the photo of the soles of this pair, some of the paint remains. The box is also labeled with the wholesaler North & Scott of St. Louis, who advertised that their assortment will be found larger and more varied than any found in the market. The boots themselves were stamped with the mark of the Chester Boot Company of Vermont.

This barrel lid from the Arabia is stamped with the name J.D. McCreary & Co. New York. This ink manufacturer shipped products throughout the nation in the 1850s. In New Orleans, the Sheldon & Potter Paper Warehouse acted as their agent. An advertisement from an Indianapolis newspaper in 1852 describes the arrival of a shipment of their products to the merchant C.B. Davis as follows: "1,000 lbs. Printing Ink - Consisting of fall and winter news and book inks. Also red, blue, ...green, and yellow inks, gold size and varnish. These inks are manufactured by J.D. McCreary of New York, and are warranted to be of the best quality. For sale at manufacturers prices, wholesale and retail by C.B. Davis No. 12, Washington St." On January 13, 1860 the New York Times reported the following: "Yesterday morning, about 9 o'clock, a fire occurred in the ink manufactory occupied by Messrs. J.D. McCreary & Co. Damage about $200; insured." It seems to have been a busy day for fires in the city, with others being reported at a stable, hardware store, publication office, and on the corner of 2nd Avenue and 34th Street. #arabiasteamboatmuseum #steamboat #museum #history #barrel #ink #missouririver #rivermarketkc #missouriadventure #missouritourism #visitkc See more

We’re honored to receive this 2020 Travelers’ Choice award from TripAdvisor! And a big thanks to all our visitors-we couldn’t do it without you! #arabiasteamboatmuseum #steamboat #museum #tripadvisor #travelerschoice #missouritourism #visitmo #howwedokc #visitkc #missouriadventure

Today marks 164 years since the Arabia sank near Parkville, Missouri on September 5, 1856. The following account appeared in a Parkville newspaper a few days later: "On last Friday evening just before nightfall the Missouri River passenger steamer Arabia while in sight and nearing our city struck a snag which perforated her hull in so serious a manner that she sunk in the short space of ten minutes in twelve foot of water. No lives were lost but the boat and her cargo, which... was a very large one, bound for points above and Council Bluffs, is a total loss. We do not know whether the insurance companies will attempt to recover her cargo or not. It would seem to be a hopeless task as the water is now running over her hurricane deck in one or two places where the vessel has broken in two." While the loss of their belongings caused a great hardship for many passengers and general store merchants, we are grateful for all that this time capsule has to teach us. #onthisday #otd #arabiasteamboatmuseum #steamboat #museum #timecapsule #history #missouririver #missouriadventure See more

This weekend is a great time to check out the museum's new self-guided tour featuring a fresh series of short videos that bring the Arabia's history and excavation to life! Please note that we will close at 4:00 on Monday, September 7 for Labor Day. It's always a good idea to arrive 90 minutes prior to closing to ensure you have plenty of time to view the exhibits and remember to bring a mask, they are required by order of the health department. Have a safe and happy holiday!

On This Day: The Arabia passed Glasgow, Missouri on September 2, 1856 on what turned out to be its final trip up the Missouri River. The boat sank three days later near Parkville. (Image: Glasgow, MO 1864, Library of Congress) #otd #onthisday #history #museum #arabiasteamboatmuseum #missouririver #missouriadventure #missouritourism