St Chuck mayor working on bringing the National Steamboat Museum to the river front there - Now exists as Steamboat Arabia museum in KC
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/col ... -top-story
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/col ... -top-story
The Arabia Museum is awesome. I could spend hours there. The story behind the museum is pretty amazing too. I'd be very surprised if KC somehow let the museum get away.
(I'm also jealous of their toys and miniatures museum, but that's another story)
(I'm also jealous of their toys and miniatures museum, but that's another story)
- 8,905
This would be a big get. just the other day I watched a documentary on discovering the steamboat Arabia. If you have Disney it’s under the National Geographic section.
Drain the Oceans: Mississippi River.
At 16:26 they feature the museum.
Very interesting and worth a watch
Drain the Oceans: Mississippi River.
At 16:26 they feature the museum.
Very interesting and worth a watch
- 2,419
It sounds like St. Charles is the favorite for it in that article, but maybe not.
It'd be a great addition to their riverfront if it happens.
Sent from my SM-F711U using Tapatalk
It'd be a great addition to their riverfront if it happens.
Sent from my SM-F711U using Tapatalk
A crime that podunk St. Charles has the leadership to get this done, while the actual capital for steamboats (Downtown) isn't even in the running.
Reminds me of other missed museums:
- National Soccer Museum + HOF
- Ragtime Museum
- National Beer Museum
Instead, we've lost the Bowling Museum and the Dog Museum.
Reminds me of other missed museums:
- National Soccer Museum + HOF
- Ragtime Museum
- National Beer Museum
Instead, we've lost the Bowling Museum and the Dog Museum.
- 2,419
I must admit, it is a bit disheartening.
Sent from my SM-F711U using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-F711U using Tapatalk
- 1,607
As the 3rd most populous county in the state St. Charles isn't podunk anymore. Also, given their bullish nature, not shocking that they have the leadership or capacity to do this.RuskiSTL wrote: ↑May 13, 2022A crime that podunk St. Charles has the leadership to get this done, while the actual capital for steamboats (Downtown) isn't even in the running.
Regionalism is a two way street. We should be happy for our friends in St. Chuck if they pull this great museum to our region. Though agree this would look way better under the Arch than the Ameristar.
- 1,792
I'm not even sure why there would be such a thing at all. How many steamboats could they possible have. Just move a couple Historic Steamboats that are no longer ?river-worthy? to the National Transportation Museum and build an adjoining building. If St. Charles can get a functioning river cruise boat going I'm all (especially if it made day cruises to Augusta and Hermann) for that but a Steamboat museum... meh.
- 1,607
No doubt this is not everyone's cup of tea...
- 1,792
Hey i love good museum, but we already have one in the National Transportation museum of which steamboats would be a logical topic/focus area considering its connection to the region, so it already works within their charter. If they had a functioning excursion paddle wheel from downtown st. charles, i would be all for it. I wish you could do excursion from downtown stl to downtown stc but the chain of rocks sort of kills that as a possibility.
I also question how many steamboats they could pull together to make a respectable museum from. One or two..? Its not going to be like the smithsonian Air & space museum. There just aren't that many in existance anymore, if any at all, and i assume most have been converted to petroleum based fuels. with the steam systems removed entirely.
I also question how many steamboats they could pull together to make a respectable museum from. One or two..? Its not going to be like the smithsonian Air & space museum. There just aren't that many in existance anymore, if any at all, and i assume most have been converted to petroleum based fuels. with the steam systems removed entirely.
Sounds like Marshall, Missouri is already putting something together for this.
https://www.nationalsteamboatmuseum-mar ... nction.com
Also, they're excavated steamboats, not operational or lookalikes, but boats that sank with their cargo along the Missouri River hundreds of years ago and are now resting under corn fields and farms due to course changes in the river. In addition to the Arabia there is another submerged boat at Malta Bend that they want to excavate.
Some more background:
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/col ... 9055c.html
https://www.nationalsteamboatmuseum-mar ... nction.com
Also, they're excavated steamboats, not operational or lookalikes, but boats that sank with their cargo along the Missouri River hundreds of years ago and are now resting under corn fields and farms due to course changes in the river. In addition to the Arabia there is another submerged boat at Malta Bend that they want to excavate.
Some more background:
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/col ... 9055c.html
- 2,419
It doesn't sound like you've ever been to the Steamboat of Arabia Museum in Kansas City.STLEnginerd wrote: ↑May 13, 2022I'm not even sure why there would be such a thing at all. How many steamboats could they possible have. Just move a couple Historic Steamboats that are no longer ?river-worthy? to the National Transportation Museum and build an adjoining building. If St. Charles can get a functioning river cruise boat going I'm all (especially if it made day cruises to Augusta and Hermann) for that but a Steamboat museum... meh.
The museum is legit. The Steamboat of Arabia was a ship that sank in the Missouri River back in 1856. The museum showcases the retrieved artifacts of that ship and they've found another ship or two within the last five years, hence the reason for them needing more space.
The company that found these ships claims to have the largest collection of pre-Civil War artifacts in the world. Make no mistake about it, this would be a massive get for St. Charles.
- 6,119
Marshall has a surprisingly active transportation history community. They have a little air museum at their airport, which is home to one of the oldest flight schools in the United States. (Might be the oldest public one still operating.) Add to that some real railroad history and maybe some support from neighboring communities like Sedalia and Malta Bend and you have the makings of a real bid. All that said, Kansas City would be foolish not to find a way to go all in to keep this. It's been a popular local attraction for many years. (Though as observed earlier in the thread, this does happen. Especially when larger interests want the space the little museum occupies. Note the bowling hall of fame.)sc4mayor wrote: ↑May 13, 2022Sounds like Marshall, Missouri is already putting something together for this.
https://www.nationalsteamboatmuseum-mar ... nction.com
Also, they're excavated steamboats, not operational or lookalikes, but boats that sank with their cargo along the Missouri River hundreds of years ago and are now resting under corn fields and farms due to course changes in the river. In addition to the Arabia there is another submerged boat at Malta Bend that they want to excavate.
Some more background:
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/col ... 9055c.html
- 2,419
The STL Today article mentions Marshall, MO and their website, but says that St. Charles leadership is very bullish on their ability to make it happen citing a "six-month exclusive head start to line up financing."
I'd rather it end up in St. Charles than Marshall; and it sounds like if they can find the funding, it will.
I'd rather it end up in St. Charles than Marshall; and it sounds like if they can find the funding, it will.
They only get the head start on financing if they get the agreement signed with the existing museum owner. As far as fundraising goes, Marshall has been soliciting donations since last year. Not sure how much they've come up with though.
For the past few weeks, the city has been in negotiation with Hawley to sign a letter of intent to locate the future museum in St. Charles, if the various partners can find the funding. If the I’s are dotted and the T’s crossed, Borgmeyer will have a leg up on the competition, with a six-month exclusive head start to line up financing.
- 2,419
Ah, good catch.
I would think St. Charles has more financial might than Marshall to pull something like this off considering they're already pumping $2 billion into their riverfront.
Considering the owner of the ship was from St. Charles and is buried in St. Charles, it does seem like a natural place for the museum.
I would think St. Charles has more financial might than Marshall to pull something like this off considering they're already pumping $2 billion into their riverfront.
Considering the owner of the ship was from St. Charles and is buried in St. Charles, it does seem like a natural place for the museum.
That isn't exactly St. Charles money being spent on that riverfront but large developers. Obviously there are a few more of those around here than in Marshall.
Still, I like it out there. If they're serious about expanding and then excavating another boat (a boat that just happens to be buried 11 or so miles from Marshall) then it makes more sense to me to keep it out west.
Still, I like it out there. If they're serious about expanding and then excavating another boat (a boat that just happens to be buried 11 or so miles from Marshall) then it makes more sense to me to keep it out west.
- 1,792
Ok so i retract my earlier comments. I guess i should have read the article.
Honestly it never occurred to me what is proposed could ever happen and I think its crazy to think they would move the Arabia and its collection. Its a KC institution. I would love to see it here but it would feel a bit like try to get the Chiefs to move to St. Louis somehow. Or them trying to get the City Museum to move to KC. There are lines that i don't think should be crossed in our cross state rivalry.
That said i think its a way to squeeze KC for some kind of accommodation.
Honestly it never occurred to me what is proposed could ever happen and I think its crazy to think they would move the Arabia and its collection. Its a KC institution. I would love to see it here but it would feel a bit like try to get the Chiefs to move to St. Louis somehow. Or them trying to get the City Museum to move to KC. There are lines that i don't think should be crossed in our cross state rivalry.
That said i think its a way to squeeze KC for some kind of accommodation.
The museum has been a bad neighbor and I think pays little/no rent. They came in when nothing else was there but have overstayed their welcome.STLEnginerd wrote:Ok so i retract my earlier comments. I guess i should have read the article.
Honestly it never occurred to me what is proposed could ever happen and I think its crazy to think they would move the Arabia and its collection. Its a KC institution. I would love to see it here but it would feel a bit like try to get the Chiefs to move to St. Louis somehow. Or them trying to get the City Museum to move to KC. There are lines that i don't think should be crossed in our cross state rivalry.
That said i think its a way to squeeze KC for some kind of accommodation.
A move has been discussed for many years at this point. Neighborhood was positive about a potential move out. Parkville MO near KC was also floated as a new location.
You could fit an expanded museum where they are now. It’s a great spot for a museum but they just aren’t a good group to keep around. Their KC neighborhood is probably better off without them but I’d love to see it in a different part of KC.
- 2,623
That museum is fantastic and I can't help but think it would be a great puzzle piece in a Chouteau's Landing redevelopment. It would also be great if it could be folded into the national park service in the form of a new museum on the arch grounds.
More realistically though, this makes a lot of sense for St. Chuck. I was reading something the other day about how St. Charles is usually a day trip and that they are trying to build more attractions and diverse neighborhoods to make them into more of a weekend excursion for visitors.
More realistically though, this makes a lot of sense for St. Chuck. I was reading something the other day about how St. Charles is usually a day trip and that they are trying to build more attractions and diverse neighborhoods to make them into more of a weekend excursion for visitors.
You know what would make St. Charles more attractive to visitors? A light rail connection to the airport.
- 2,623
Also 4-5 intercity stops along the dense and soon to be dense riverfront spine. Cross on the Wabash or Discovery Bridge (or just build a new bridge up there) then follow the Katy Trail ROW all the way down to the Family Arena
- 1,792
crossing that river would be tough. I don't see any current bridge as viable unless they gave up a lane of traffic and you can guess how that would go over. I also don't see to much interest in using the Katy trail as a light rail corridor as its current use is quite popular.
- 6,119
^I'd think the best thing to do would be to build a new bridge. And one between roughly the end of St. Charles Rock Road and the old streetcar station might be about the ideal spot. (Which is to say where the streetcar bridge used to be, more or less.) That makes this especially expensive, of course. But surely that was the case the last time someone proposed a line to St. Charles as well, and the utility of the thing might well justify the cost. I don't see any value to the Katy Trail right of way, as it doesn't really go anywhere after St. Charles that would justify a stop. If you wanted to extend it further, I'd guess the I-70 corridor would be the way to go. But just getting a stop in Downtown St. Charles might be enough.