The height of the Steamboat Era was from 1820 to 1870 here in America. They plied most of the major lakes and rivers in this country. Averaging 5 miles per hour, they were the quickest form of transportation at the time. On the Missouri River, they were the primary source of supplies and human transport for much longer than you’d expect, given the fact that the average steamboat on that waterway only lasted for 3 years. Being aboard one was a risky proposition on the best of days.
These vessels were very cheaply built to maximize profit, and it was not unusual for their boilers to explode, which could either disintegrate the entire ship or set it on fire. There was also a legitimate fear of Indian attacks. It was also possible to be sunk by ice or striking rocks.
But the biggest danger of all were the snags, which could consist of roots or logs from a downed tree or remnants of a boat wreck. This debris could puncture your hull and rapidly sink your ship. These snags were constantly on the move due to the strong current, and therefore could turn up in very unexpected locations.
Ironically, it was the steamboats themselves that caused the snags in the first place. In order to produce the steam needed to run the engines, these vessels required massive amounts of wood to burn. As steamboats became increasingly popular, more and more trees along the banks of the river were chopped down to burn on the ships. The lack of living trees to support the river’s banks meant a drastic increase in erosion, and the roots and remnants of those downed trees washed into the river itself. Boats that crashed and sank on these snags then became snags themselves.
Nearly 400 steamboats were reported to have sunk along the stretch of river from St. Louis to Kansas City during the steamboat era, and many other vessels followed suit. The Missouri was not only a primary transportation route, but it was also a graveyard. In addition, it has turned out to be a very effective time capsule.
On September 5, 1856, the Steamboat Arabia became yet another casualty of the treacherous snags on the Missouri River. The vessel was almost completely covered in silt and beneath the surface of the water within less than 24 hours of sinking. Fortunately, the 130 people who had been on board all survived. The same cannot be said of the poor mule that had been chained to the deck.
The vast majority of the 200 tons of food and supplies that were aboard were impossible to recover, despite many attempts by fortune hunters of that century. After the last unsuccessful salvage attempt in 1897, the vessel was all but forgotten for the next 91 years, as it was covered by more and more silt. The river slowly rerouted itself a half mile to the north, leaving the Arabia behind. By the time it was finally located again, the wreck lay 45 feet beneath a cornfield.
Five partners pooled a million dollars in order to dig the steamboat up, but the farmer made them wait until after that year’s fall harvest and insisted they be done before the next year’s spring planting. They were able to excavate the steamboat and its contents in about 4 ½ months. Due to the constant temperature, the lack of oxygen, and the silt, much of what they found was in excellent shape. This salvage produced a treasure trove of items that tell us a great deal about what life was like for 19th century pioneers. The partners knew they had found something unique, so they came up with another million dollars to house these incredible discoveries in the Arabia Steamboat Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.
I had been wanting to visit that museum for about a quarter of a century, because it contains the largest collection of pre-Civil War artifacts in the world. I finally got to see it a few months ago. It was a fascinating experience for a nerd like me. As you can see, Dear Husband and I took a lot of pictures.
140 tons of cargo looks almost like new. 60 more tons are being restored. You can watch the restoration being done and ask the technicians questions in real time.
It felt like time travel to be able to look at shoes, clothing, tools, and preserved food, some of which, according to the discoverers thereof, is still edible. (They actually tried the preserved pickles and apples and state they were delicious. They’re braver than I would be.)
You can also see buttons and beads for trade, fine China, weaponry, hats, cutlery, glass bottles, keys, doorknobs, jewelry, pens, spurs, clothes pins, irons, sewing notions, and pots and pans. Basically, the Arabia was carrying just about anything that was fit to be sold in a mercantile or a trading post. I bet the owner/investors were furious to lose so much merchandise!
The museum also houses a paddle wheel, and you can also see portions of the ship with traces of its original paint. They also have the actual steam engine, as well as the actual snag that did the boat in. The most unsettling items were the abandoned belongings of the fleeing passengers, and the skeleton of the poor mule.
The museum’s lease runs out in 2026, and they’re scouting out other locations because they want to expand. If successful, they will call themselves the National Steamboat Museum. It seems that many of the wrecks from steamboats are accurately mapped along the former banks of the Missouri River, so the recovery team is now working on salvaging the Steamboat Malta.
If the museum does expand, a return visit will definitely be on my bucket list, because I can’t imagine how it could get even better than it already is.
Additional Sources:
https://www.newstribune.com/news/2022/sep/10/missouri-river-not-immune-to-steamboat-accidents/
https://www.historynet.com/arabia-steamboat-museum-captures-life-missouri-1856/
Are you wondering what to bring to Thanksgiving dinner? How about my book, Notes on Gratitude? Place your orders now! (Or any other time, since we’re on the subject.) And… thanks!
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