THE TREASURE OF THE STEAMBOAT ARABIA

September 2012

A couple of weeks ago, on our Prep day, we took Sister Richardson and Sister Payne (they have the same prep day as us) to view the treasures recovered from the Steamboat Arabia.  The “Arabia” was built in 1853.  Its side paddlewheels were 28’ across, and its steam boilers consumed approximately 30 cords of wood per day.  The boat averaged 5 miles an hour going upstream.

In the year 1856, the 171-foot-long steamboat Arabia served as a lifeline to the frontier, bringing tons of new supplies westward to settlements along the Missouri River.  On September 5, 1856, the big twin stack, side-wheeler, had just left Kansas City when her hull was suddenly pierced by a submerged tree. 

She sank in just minutes into 15 feet of water.  The passengers and crew survived, but the 200-ton frontier cargo was lost to the river.  Numerous salvage attempts failed.  Over time, the river shifted a half a mile to the east.

In 1988, 132 years after her sinking, Bob Hawley and his sons, Greg and David, set out to find the boat.  The Hawleys used old maps and a proton magnetometer to figure out the probable location, and finally recovered the "Arabia" under 45 feet of silt and topsoil.  It was located in a farmer's field, a half a mile from the river.  

Picture on left is of the Hawleys and two family friends, who set out excavating for the boat during the winter months while the water table was at its lowest point.

The picture on the right shows how deep they had to dig before they found the sunken steamboat in the farmer's field.

The family is still very much involved in this project.  We took a picture with one of the sons, David, who is the same person in the above picture but 25 years earlier.  We also met the father.

They have a 30,000 Square foot building in which they display what they have cleaned up so far.  The agreement with the farmer to dig on his land, was they could do it during off season, but once spring came, they had to have the hole filled back up, ready for his crop to be put in.

They worked hard during the winter months, pulling out and storing everything they could find.  Many items had to be stored in like conditions to preserve them until they could clean them up for display.  Leather goods, etc. are still in display cases with moisture, temperature, etc. to preserve them.

Buried for 132 years this excavation uncovered a “time Capsule” of remarkably preserved 1856 frontier supplies – the world’s largest collection.   With only personal financing for this project, this group of modern-day explorers succeeded where generations before them had failed.

Items of nearly every description were found.  Dishware, tools, clothing, guns, food, medical supplies, and jewelry were included in the remarkable find.

About 2/3 of all the items they have are on display.  They still have about 1/3 more items they are still cleaning up, preparing them to put on display.

At one end of their display room , they have a section about the Mormons and about the pioneers that traveled west and south from the east, and many by Steamships, like this one.  We really enjoyed our visit to this museum.

After this visit to the museum, we did take the Sisters to visit two of their investigators they are teaching which we also enjoyed.