Hawley wondered if it was the Malta. Inside, they found 150 gold buttons, fabric, well-preserved ceramics and a large iron hook. In February, a core sample unearthed black and red wool and window glass, Hawley said, but more samples need to be taken to better determine what the Malta holds. Most important, we want to continue documenting evidence of the Bible's reliability so that we can put into the hands of "everyday" Christians quality materials that will not only boost their confidence in the Bible, but provide them with tools for effectively leading others to Christ and building up Christians in their faith. The Malta lies in a cornfield 1,000 feet from the Missouri River due to the river's changing boundaries. Copyright 2023 >> WE KNEW IT HAD TO BE HERE SOMEWHERE. Discovered by an unlikely team of amateur historians 45 feet beneath a Kansas cornfield, the Steamboat Arabia is one of the best-preserved shipwrecks in American history. The places with high levels of metal are circled within the outline in orange paint. The Arabia was, after all, going to be supplying everything needed for 16 outpost towns. Some of the freight was destined to unload in Independence, Missouri, for passage along the Santa Fe Trail to Bents Fort in Colorados southeast corner. In cooperation with the Maltese government, we want to return and do much more to verify the identity of the Roman anchor stock now at rest on the island. Learning was done as we went along, says Hawley. Inside, they found 150 gold buttons, fabric, well-preserved ceramics and a large iron hook. The treasures contained within painting a vivid picture of western expansion and the treacherous frontier. . THREE YEARS LATER, THE MALTA IS STILL UNDERGROUND. Lost for 132 years, its recovery in 1988 was like finding the King Tuts Tomb of the Missouri River. "If we can find and secure a location, we'll dig it next year, he said. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. You wont find it on the first day and I didnt find it I dont think in the first year.After more than a year and around 300 miles of walking, Hawley had a strong hit. The National Steamboat Museum will be the pre-eminent historical and educational facility of our nation's long-lost steamboats and the stories they carried. The answer lies with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Aboard the sidewheeled steamer was cargo for Peter Sarpy, Papin & Robidoux and other Chouteau trading posts and merchants along the Missouri River. A century-old iron scow is inching closer to the brink of Niagara Falls. No videos, backdrops or posters have been added to Cornfield Shipwreck. Watch their journey below. Rather, it had come about by taking the Bible at face value, using it as a "road map" to guide our research, and then stepping out in faith and putting its details to the test in a tangible way. Hawley has big dreams for the Malta and for future steamboat finds. We had a shoreline matching every detail of the eyewitness account in Acts 27, including a bay with a beach, a location where "two seas meet," and a sloping reef between the anchor site and the shore. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. No purchase necessary. Over time, the Missouri River moved, and the area where the boat sank became part of the land, now covered by crops. Sign up here to receive our free digital version of Personal Update. Kansas City archaeologist John Fulmer was at the site when the drilling to outline the boat was finished on Saturday and was excited that the measurements matched those of the Malta. It will be recovered during the winter months to provide cold air for the collection and lessen the threat of spring and summer flooding of the river., The stories of these great frontier steamers, says Hawley, and the heroic pilots that steered them up this uncertain river have fallen silent. Backes grew up on the farm and has lived in Malta Bend for much of his life. (writer) Cast Produced by Film Editing by Joi Shilling Jeff Van Bockern See also But the Great White Arabia was lost, along with all her precious cargo. (Photo:Courtesy of the Arabia Steamboat Museum). Marking the outline of the Arabia; 45 feet deep and about the length of a football field. casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea . As it turns out, Luke's careful record of the voyage and shipwreck argue convincingly against the traditional "St. Paul's Bay," where no artifacts have ever been found, though professionals have searched for them. From left, Rod Morrow, David Luttrell and Justin Beaver prepare to drill to make the final measurements of the a steamboat on Saturdayin Malta Bend, Missouri. MALTA BEND Wet, thick mud oozed out of the ground as a drilling rig spiraled in and out of the rich bottom land 1,000 feet from the Missouri River. It was the adventure of finding buried treasure.. This page was last modified 07:42, 17 November 2021. The marine environment of the famous Jellyfish Lake is a sanctuary for these majestic drifting creatures. Discovered by an unlikely team of amateur historians 45 feet beneath a Kansas cornfield, the Steamboat Arabia is one of the best-preserved shipwrecks in American history. Theyre buried in your own back yard., Hawley and his intrepid team have quite the incredible passion: discovering and excavating steamboats from the 19th century that may have sunk in the Missouri, but now lie beneath fields of farmers midwestern corn. He knew the Malta sank near the town of Malta Bend because of the name and turned to newspaper archives to narrow down its location. In Malta Bend, Missouri, theres one that sank loaded down with expensive and rare trading goods, and its been underground for nearly 200 years. It all started with a shipwreck, as told in the book of Acts, about 60 AD while the apostle Paul was en route to Rome. Cornfield Shipwreck TV Special 2019 37 m IMDb RATING 7.4 /10 19 YOUR RATING Rate Documentary Discovered by an unlikely team of amateur historians 45 feet beneath a Kansas cornfield, the Steamboat Arabia is one of the best-preserved shipwrecks in American history. You can help by adding some! IT TOOK A YEAR AND 300 MILES BEFORE HE GOT A STRONG HIT. "People say, Oh, I know where it's at, Backes said smiling. Operated by the American Fur Company, the Malta. Several years ago, he turned his eyes on the Malta, which sank in 1841 after hitting a tree in the river -- a common fate for boats back then. Second Sunken Steamboat Raises Questions For Kansas City's Arabia Museum, Steamboat Arabia Museum Charts Course Away From City Market, Toward Jefferson City, A guide to exploring Kansas City's French influences and history. 400 Grand Blvd. "It's great exercise even if you don't find anything, Hawley said. (View a sample.). We had instrument readings showing they were left in the sea at the precise depth recorded by Luke. The boat, built inPittsburgh in 1839, had left St. Louis for Council Bluffs, Iowa. And research into sailing ships of the day informed me that the anchors in question would have been huge, lead-and-wooden Roman-style anchors common on huge freighters like the one Paul sailed on. The city of Malta Bend, Missouri, is named for the sunken ship. Like many other traditions relating to Biblical events, there is a traditionally held site for the location of Paul's shipwreck. The steamboat Malta sank in late August 1841 while loaded with Indian trading supplies for the American Fur Company. It could be the museum of the great American steamboat, Hawley said. Hawley says the lease for the steamboat museum is up in seven years and he needs more room. It'll be a lot of work, and a lot of money, but to Hawley the prospects are bright. Login to create it. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the days most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. The treasures contained within painting a vivid picture of western expansion and the treacherous frontier. Hawley said when the team first began, they moved the drill at 10- to 15-foot intervals, but as the outline neared completion, the drilling became more precise at about a foot between each hole. Cornfield Shipwreck Discovered by an unlikely team of amateur historians 45 feet beneath a Kansas cornfield, the Steamboat Arabia is one of the best-preserved shipwrecks in American history. According to David Hawley, the leader of the project, the measurements found Saturday match those of the Malta. You hit and you miss., Hawley's father owned a heating and cooling business, and in 1985 Hawley met a customer who "looked for steamboats, flying saucers and Bigfoot. >> BEFORE I DID THIS, MY FAMILY RAN A HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING BUSINESS. The treasures contained within painting a vivid picture of western expansion and the treacherous frontier. Rumors said it was filled with gold, or hundreds of barrels of Kentucky bourbon. Discovered by an unlikely team of amateur historians 45 feet beneath a Kansas cornfield, the Steamboat Arabia is one of the best-preserved shipwrecks in American history. ." Today the collection is so vast it is housed in a former fruit market in Kansas City that the team turned into a museum. AS KMBC 9S WILLIAM JOY REPORTS THIS DISCOVERY HOLDS PART OF OUR NATIONS HISTORY. >> PEOPLE SAY, I KNOW WHERE ITS AT. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. There was no sign of the legendary hoard of gold and whiskey barrels. The oldest dugout ever found there is almost 7,000 years old. ITS GREAT EXERCISE EVEN IF YOU DONT FIND ANYTHING. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. "We knew it had to be here somewhere, Backes said. >> WEVE HAD PEOPLE OUT HERE BEFORE LOOKING FOR IT. The cost to dig it up: $3 million. The evidence we had personally discovered fit every detail of Luke's description of the anchors Paul's ship left in the sea. How a Champagne-Laden Steamship Ended Up in a Kansas Cornfield. Discovered by an unlikely team of amateur historians 45 feet beneath a Kansas cornfield, the Steamboat Arabia is one of the best-preserved shipwrecks We didnt dig the boat to create a museum, says Hawley. Even more amazing, because he had no idea what he had found, the diver passed along one of the anchor stocks to a friend of the family - who now kept it on display in her local villa! To give some indication of scale, the team found over 4,000 shoes and boots and over three million Indian trade beads. From the very beginning, I have felt that with enough research, Biblical investigation, and on-site observation, we would stand a good chance of finding what no one to date has been able to find - the precise location of Paul's shipwreck along the coast of Malta. You wont find it on the first day and I didnt find it I dont think in the first year.. There is much yet to do at Malta. You dont have to go into the ocean to find a shipwreck, says Kansas City explorer DavidHawley. The team worked to find the outline and measurements of the boat, which confirmed that it was the Malta, which sank in 1841. My email is steve@kcur.org. According to David Hawley, the leader of the steamboat recovery process, the boat was probably headed west carrying goods to trade with American Indians for furs. Let us know! Whether its your first visit to this favorite Kansas City attraction or you come every year, the treasures of the Steamboat Arabia will connect you to American history in a new and exciting way. Lost for 132 years, its recovery in 1988 was like finding the King Tut's Tomb of the Missouri River. Only until the Malta reveals its cargo will Hawley know whether the boat was headed upriver laden with fabrics, food and household goods or hauling furs for the American Fur Co. in St. Louis. Drilling at the site began in January. Several years ago, he turned his eyes on the Malta, which sank in 1841 after hitting a tree in the river -- a common fate for boats back then. As I correlated all these facts, I realized that the four stern anchors of Paul's prisoner-laden cargo ship may well represent the best possibility in the world today of recovering an actual, physical object specifically mentioned in the pages of the Bible. . The rig stopped Saturday afternoon as it rounded out the last corner, affirming David Hawleys suspicion of what it had been running into down below. There was a problem saving your notification. Cold air preserves artifacts better than warm air, Hawley said. "I remember coming down here and wondering would it be in this field or that field or maybe in the river, Hawley said, pointing across Backes property. The discovery was truly a modern day treasure-hunting story at its best. 6.6K views, 120 likes, 15 loves, 9 comments, 61 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Arabia Steamboat Museum: Discover the buried treasures of the American frontier in "Cornfield Shipwreck," a new,. We recently completed the outlining of the Malta, says Hawley. KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and powerful storytelling. The next morning they see a bay. This coming Wednesday 10thFebruary, Malta will be celebrating the feast of St. Paul's Shipwreck. [Bob Cornuke can be contacted at the Biblical Archaeology Search & Exploration (BASE) Institute: (719) 540-9799 or www.baseinstitute.org.]. We came to cherish each and every item we located, and vowed not to sell, Hawley says, but instead to preserve the Arabia collection no artifacts have been sold and its supported only by those willing to purchase a ticket for a museum tour., Uncovered pistols from the Arabia; small and pocket sized, but would have provided protection at close range. Discovered by an unlikely team of amateur historians 45 feet beneath a Kansas cornfield, the Steamboat Arabia is one of the best-preserved shipwrecks in American history. At KI, we delve into the relevance and reliability of Scripture, including prophetic insight both past and present. But I wanted to know about steamboats.. April 2002 Personal Update News Journal. This article was originally published in the Working night and day, and funding their project themselveseach member of the team put in $10,000, supplemented by loans from local banksthey dug through the frost of Kansas winter nights. Advertisement for the Arabias final voyage; steamboats were used to carry both passengers and cargo. By the autumn of 1988, the team had not only located the steamboat, but traced the outline of its main deck in the soil. "We've been working on it for years to get it to this point, Hawley said. *Closed on New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve andChristmas Day. (Photo: Courtesy of the Arabia Steamboat Museum). (Photo:Courtesy of the Arabia Steamboat Museum), As the cargo deck was gradually unearthed, so too was the remarkable scale of the find. Hawley has been searching for steamboat wrecks up and down the Missouri River for more than 30 years. And Hawley has found some. In August, 1856, the Great White Arabia was chartered for a run from St. Louis to Omaha City, Nebraska. "That's as good of history as it gets, Hawley said. I produce daily conversations to uplift and inspire the people of the Kansas City area to make the world a better place. Aboard the sidewheeled steamer was cargo for Peter Sarpy, Papin & Robidoux and other Chouteau trading posts and merchants along the Missouri River. The town of Malta Bend has waited centuries to find its namesake and is eager to know and see the treasures contained below the surface. During the latter half of the 19th century, the Corps of Engineers undertook projects to forcibly alter the shape of the Missouri River. Hundreds of 1800s steamboats were lost to the Missouri River, hidden deep beneath riverbeds and farmfields. According to Christian tradition, the apostle was shipwrecked on the Mediterranean island during. But for more than a century, no farmer knew exactly where a different type of gold was buried. (Photo:Courtesy of the Arabia Steamboat Museum). Bible study resources from Dr. Chuck Missler, on DVD, CD, audio and video download. Not by the cleverness of any individual, and certainly not by assuming that the Bible cannot be trusted. What had our expedition yielded? The search now is to find a place to put the boat and the treasure inside. Steamboatvoyages were frequently hazardous, and hundreds of steamboats sank along the Missouri alone. A nearly complete chalk outline marks the position of the Malta steamboat on Saturday. The boat sank in 1841 near Malta Bend, Missouri. Its like mowing a lawn, you go back and forth, Hawley said. Apple Inc. 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