Arabia Steamboat Museum, History museum in River Market, Kansas City, United States.

The Arabia Steamboat Museum in Kansas City's River Market holds artifacts salvaged from the Arabia, which sank in the Missouri River in 1856 with about 220 tons of cargo bound for 16 frontier towns. Displays include more than 4,000 boots and shoes, 247 hats, 235 ax heads, 29 jars of pickles and 328 pocket knives. A 171-foot reproduction of the main deck shows the original boilers, engine, anchor, a mule skeleton, the 6-ton stern and a reconstructed paddle wheel.

The steamboat Arabia struck a submerged tree trunk in the Missouri River in 1856 and sank rapidly. The wreck remained buried under mud and soil for more than a century until accidental discovery during land excavation in the 1980s.

Most of the cargo was new merchandise bound for general stores in 16 frontier towns, not passengers' belongings. The collection counts more than 4,000 boots and shoes, 247 hats, 235 ax heads, 328 pocket knives and 29 jars of pickles, all made in 1856 or earlier. The Wall Street Journal described the museum as "an Aladdin's cave of objects from the year 1856".

Plan to spend at least two hours exploring the exhibits and the different sections throughout the museum. The location in River Market is accessible by car or public transit with parking available nearby.

Visitors can observe the restoration laboratories where specialists clean and preserve items that are over 150 years old. This ongoing work shows the careful techniques needed to protect fragile historical materials after remaining buried for so long.