Posted Earlier:

The Packet (Steamboat) Arabia...152 years ago.

This was posted earlier on another blog and has been very slightly edited:

On September 5th of 1856 (152 years ago) the the Packet (Steamboat) Arabia struck a sycamore snag in the Missouri River and sank at Parkville. No lives were lost except for the mule who later became known as Lawrence. When Arabia and its still intact contents were unearthed from 40-feet down in a farmer's field on the Kansas site of the river by a crew of four local treasure hunters in 1987 no one expected the real treasure that eventually came to light. That treasure has been housed in Kansas City's Treasures of the Arabia Museum in the city's River Market.

The museum is one of Kansas City's jewels but is housed in a woefully inadequate former produce warehouse that has been subjected to a leaks from above and other persistent problems. We've heard the owners of the museum are actively seeking to locate the museum in Parkville. Such a location is logical and will be highly appreciated by the citizens of the town as well as the citizens of Southern Platte County. The Arabia will provide a rare, nearly instantaneous boost to tourism, business investment, economic development, educational opportunities (at all levels including the university level) and civic pride.

What's to be done? Last week, September 5th, several politicians from Parkville and Platte County as well as officials from the county's Economic Development Council, a commercial developer and a municipal bonding agent were present at a meeting as invitees of the Hawley family who owns the museum. It has been reported those in attendance were given a tour of the facility and treated to cake and other refreshments while being allowed to ask questions about how the relocation of the museum to Parkville could be accomplished.

It has been said that the first obstacle to overcome is the location. Isn't it always? Even before the first penny can be raised in earnest, the location must be agreed upon and, at least, options for the site secured. We've heard that the Hawleys have a location, or two, in mind near the current English Landing Park. We suspect that due to restrictions that Park College put on the use of the park itself, that the museum cannot be located within the park proper. Of course, location in the wrong place, in that area, will simply invite the Missouri to revisit the Arabia from time to time with floods. Sites above the flood levels will have to be considered.

We think it would be great to have a solid grass-roots support for the museum's relocation to Parkville. Who will step forward to organize this? What citizens of gravitas will step forward to add their support to this effort? We shall see.