STEAMBOAT ARABIA

Kathy Fitzgerald told us about this museum which cost $11.50, but was worth every penny. The Steamboat Arabia sunk in the Missouri River in 1856, but years later the river changed course, and it ended up being buried in a cornfield. It was buried for 132 years, but its evacuation in 1988 uncovered a "time capsule" of remarkably preserved supplies of all types from clothes to dishes to hardware, and even food. Most of the passengers on the steamboat were women and children going to join their husbands, and they were all saved. The only casualty was a mule which has been named "Lawrence-of Arabia". Besides getting to see all the preserved contents of the boat, you learn the story of the recovery process, done by three men and their families, none of which had any experience. They've passed up great wealth by not selling any of the contents, and have set up a foundation to keep the museum in Kansas City. They still figure it will take ten more years to restore the rest of the contents. It's an amazing story!