Arabia Steamboat Museum, Kansas City (must see)

The Arabia Steamboat Museum in Kansas City is a unique history museum that showcases artifacts recovered from the steamboat Arabia, which sank in the Missouri River in 1856. Located in the Kansas City River Market, the 30,000-square-foot museum opened its doors on November 13, 1991, and is operated by the partners of River Salvage Inc., the team responsible for excavating Arabia. The museum proudly claims to house the world's largest single collection of pre-Civil War artifacts.

Visitors begin their journey through the museum with a series of four 5-minute videos that recount the dramatic story of Arabia's sinking and subsequent excavation. Additionally, a 14-minute film titled "The Fall and Rise of the Steamboat Arabia" is available for viewing in the museum's theater. Following these introductions, guests can explore the extensive display of artifacts, as well as witness the painstaking work of the preservation lab, where staff meticulously clean and restore the many items in storage.

A highlight of the museum is the 171-foot-long full-scale reproduction of Arabia's main deck. Here, visitors can immerse themselves in the history of the steamboat, viewing archival footage of the excavation and learning more about Arabia's story. The exhibit also features the original boilers, engine, anchor, and the skeleton of a mule that was found on board. Additionally, the museum showcases the 6-ton stern and a reconstructed paddle wheel.

The museum's vast collection comprises hundreds of thousands of items that were intended for daily use on the American frontier. Among the artifacts are over 4,000 boots and shoes, 247 hats, 235 ax heads, 29 jars of pickles, 328 pocket knives, and a single children's doll—all dating from 1856 or earlier. Most of these items were new merchandise destined for general stores on the frontier, making the collection a fascinating time capsule of mid-19th-century life. Described by The Wall Street Journal as "an Aladdin's cave of objects from the year 1856," the museum offers visitors a rare glimpse into the past.