Steamboat museum in KC eyes historic St. Charles relocation

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – A 25-year-old steamboat museum located in Kansas City is eyeing relocation near the St. Charles Historic District.

Dan Borgmeyer, mayor of St. Charles, told FOX 2 The Arabia Steamboat Museum’s lease in Kansas City will be up come 2025. Now, its the closest St. Charles has gotten to sealing the deal for its relocation in over five years.

Borgmeyer said the museum would be constructed into a new building neighboring the Lewis and Clark Boat House and Museum located near Katy Trail and the Missouri River.

The Arabia Steamboat Museum was voted “Favorite Kansas City Hidden Gem” by Visit KC and is known to have the largest collection of pre-Civil War artifacts in the world.

The museum is named after the Arabia steamboat that sank in September 1856 into the Missouri River after hitting a tree. The steamboat was carrying 200 tons of cargo at the time and was later recovered in 1988, well-preserved.

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