A museum that shouldn't be missed in Kansas City, MO is the Steamboat Arabia Museum. After sinking in 1856, the steamboat was excavated in 1988 (132 years later) uncovering preserved frontier supplies - the world's largest collection. The only casualty during the sinking was a solitary, forgotten mule.
The steamboat Arabia measured 171-feet long and was capable of carrying 222-tons.
Preserved 6-ton stern section of the boat.
Preservation lab.
Ken next to the snag that sank the steamboat Arabia (recovered during the excavation).
Bob Hawley, part of the team that worked to salvage the boat. The wreck was found one-half mile from the river's edge and buried 45-feet underground. 20 irrigation wells were installed around the boat to drop the water level in the ground. During the excavation, the ground water was removed at a rate of 20,000 gallons-per-minute, 24 hours-per-day.
Ken with Bob.
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