One of Kansas City’s top tourist attractions might be getting out of town. The owner of the Steamboat Arabia Museum is considering a new city for his collection of sunken riverboats. He tells KMBC 9 it’s a tough decision, but as the museum expands, moving is a must. Altogether 132 years after the sinking of the Steamboat Arabia near Kansas City, it was searched and found a new home in the city’s market. Now he could be heading to a new home across the state. “To see him today, it doesn’t even look like he was ever buried,” said museum owner David Hawley. He says his favorite part of the Steamboat Arabia Museum is not the artifacts, but the stories they contain. “About how it was done and what was found and where did it come from and who did it,” he said. The steamboat story is personal to Hawley because it is part of it. He found and excavated the sunken riverboat in 1988. After more than three decades of sharing his treasures with Kansas City visitors, he thinks it’s time to move on. “The museum we are in now is not big enough,” he said. “There’s another boat I want to dig called the Malta.” The Malta is buried 90 miles east of Kansas City. Hawley is looking for a building large enough to accommodate presentations of both ships, potentially including the Malta in its entirety. After exhausting options here in Kansas City, he found potential sites in St. Charles, Missouri. He plans to either build a new structure or upgrade an existing one. “We always hoped to stay in Kansas City, but we’ve spoken with almost everyone I think I can talk to,” he said. “We just weren’t able to find a big enough building (that was) affordable.” He agreed to a six-month discovery period with St. Charles to work out a plan. “The six-month period gives us that precious time to work with architects, designers and all that to say ‘yes, it works’ or ‘no, it doesn’t,’ but we think it will,” a- he declared. . “We’re going to make it work, we’re really going to try to make it happen.” Hawley admits it would be difficult to leave the house. “People have come here again and again and brought their children and grandchildren,” he said. “It would be sad to say goodbye for that reason alone.” However, he says he is ready to write the next chapter, wherever he is. Hawley expects to have a final decision on St. Charles within six months. He said the new building will cost about $50 million and will be funded by federal and private funds. The museum will remain at its current location in City Market until its lease expires in 2026. For more information about the museum, click here.
One of Kansas City’s top tourist attractions might be getting out of town. The owner of the Steamboat Arabia Museum is considering a new city for his collection of sunken riverboats. He tells KMBC 9 it’s a tough call, but as the museum expands, moving is a must.
Altogether 132 years after the sinking of the Steamboat Arabia near Kansas City, it was excavated and given a new home in the city’s market. Now he could be heading to a new home across the state.
“To see him today, it doesn’t even look like he was ever buried,” said museum owner David Hawley. He says his favorite part of the Steamboat Arabia Museum is not the artifacts, but the stories they contain. “About how it was done and what was found and where did it come from and who did it,” he said.
The history of the steamboat is personal to Hawley because it is part of it. He found and searched the sunken riverboat in 1988.
After more than three decades of sharing his treasures with visitors to Kansas City, he thinks it’s time to move on.
“The museum we are in now is not big enough,” he said. “There’s another boat I want to dig called the Malta.”
The Malta is buried 90 miles east of Kansas City. Hawley is looking for a building large enough to house displays for both ships, potentially including the Malta in its entirety.
After exhausting options here in Kansas City, he found potential sites in St. Charles, Missouri. He plans to either build a new structure or upgrade an existing structure.
“We always hoped to stay in Kansas City, but we’ve spoken with almost everyone I think I can talk to,” he said. “We just weren’t able to find a big enough building (that was) affordable.”
He agreed to a six-month discovery period with St. Charles to work out a plan.
“The six-month period gives us that precious time to work with architects, designers and all that to say ‘yes, it works’ or ‘no, it doesn’t,’ but we think it will,” a- he declared. . “We’re going to make it work, we’re really going to try to make it possible.”
Hawley admits it would be difficult to leave the house.
“People have come here again and again and brought their children and grandchildren,” he said. “It would be sad to say goodbye for that reason alone.” However, he says he is ready to write the next chapter, wherever he is.
Hawley expects to have a final decision on St. Charles within six months. He said the new building will cost about $50 million and will be funded by federal and private funds.
The museum will remain at its current location in City Market until its lease expires in 2026.
For more information about the museum, click here.
