The Steamboat Arabia Museum

The Steamboat Arabia museum is in the AAA guide. It isn't the easiest place to find, but do persevere, it's worth seeing. The admission price may seem a bit steep, but after you see all the artifacts, you'll feel it's worth every penny. It's a slice of life from the 1850s, a display of much of the cargo of a sunken steamship that had lain hidden under mud when the river changed course. How the family found, excavated, and preserved the vessel was quite a story, and they haven't looked through all the boat's cargo yet. It's a great way to learn what life was like to pioneer in the west -- the boat carried the stuff that everyone needed, hats, shoes, fabric, buttons, tools, hardware; no list could possibly do it justice. Plan to spend 2-3 hours in the museum.

Visitors can watch a conservator working on some of the salvage from the boat, preparing it for display. Very interesting and educational, too.

Explore Related Categories