Steamboat Arabia~

If you are fascinated with the Titanic, then you'd really like the tale of the Arabia. Though a major (and thankful) difference is that no one perished on this boat, except for a poor mule.

The Arabia was a steamboat that sunk in the Missouri River in the 1850's. It has been found all these years later, and dug up from the mud!

Many people were heading west, and the boat was loaded with 222 tons of goods for setting up general stores. Crates and barrels full of shoes, clothes, food, china, etc. were aboard.

After finding and digging up the Arabia, the owners of the museum have been able to display most of these items just as if you were walking into a general store back in time!

Just unbelievable!

Boy, I'd like to have some of those doorknobs!

Jars of canned fruit and veggies were still locked tight. If I recall correctly they did taste them, lol!

Are these buttons not adorable? When opening crate after crate, these buttons were found in the bottom of one. The cotton from which the clothing had been made had disintegrated.




I think it was over 6 years ago when we visited. We had gone to Kansas City to see my very first Titanic Exhibit!
French perfumes were also found on the Arabia, and I bought a reproduction scent that they named 1856. Only thing is, (anal as I am), the image that they used is not from that time period and it *really* bugs me! I would date this picture from the early 1900's, just before or around the Titanic period.

Please visit their website, and click on Museum Info. You'll be able to read the entire story, along with a video.

If you get a chance, you simply must visit the Arabia in person.

You'll see part of the boat, along with the tree that sank her.

I think they've added a lot more since we've been, it's time to go back!