"We've been working on it for years to get it to this point, Hawley said. But the Great White Arabia was lost, along with all her precious cargo. Discovered by an unlikely team of amateur historians 45 feet beneath a Kansas cornfield . See. AS KMBC 9S WILLIAM JOY REPORTS THIS DISCOVERY HOLDS PART OF OUR NATIONS HISTORY. A journey to locate sunken steamboats mystery cargo that vanished long ago., In 1988, Hawley and his crew uncoveredthe steamboat Great White Arabia, which sank in 1856 a few miles west of Kansas City. "These are national treasures, Hawley said. Thank you for reading! This place is on the island of Malta in a body of water called "St. Paul's Bay," a tradition started by a priest in the 1500s but not supported in any way by historical evidence. Aboard the sidewheeled steamer was cargo for Peter Sarpy, Papin & Robidoux and other Chouteau trading posts and merchants along the Missouri River. Drill bits sit in the back of a pickup truck waiting to be used to drill for the location of the Malta steamboaton Saturday. But three weeks into the dig, they found the first artifact: a small rubber shoe lying on the ships deck. There was a problem saving your notification. The treasures contained within painting a vivid picture of western expansion and the treacherous frontier. Hawley has found several sunken steamboats. Hawley then decided to ask friends in construction and archaeology businesses for help verifying what's underground. 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. JustWatch makes it easy to find out where you can legally watch your favorite movies & TV shows online. 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. A hundred and thirty years later, the exact contents of the steamboats cargo hold was still a mystery to Hawley and his team. Whatever the team finds inside, Hawley said hed like to combine its artifacts with those at the Arabia museum. Shop Our Favorite February Amazon Deals Before the Sales End, The 14 Best Mineral Sunscreens of 2023, According to Pros, 14 TikTok-Famous Cleaning Products That Actually Work, According to Our Experts, 14 Best Healthier Candy Alternatives of 2023, According to Taste Tests. According to Christian tradition, the apostle was shipwrecked on the Mediterranean island during. Everything today supported his hypothesis, he said. Apple TV & Privacy Its estimated between 300 and 400 boats have sunk along the Missouri River. All her passengers were saved, except for a mule, chained to a sawmill on the ground deck. You have permission to edit this article. As the course of the river was altered decades later, the steamboat became preserved not under the muddy waters of the Missouri, but in a corn field. "We knew it had to be here somewhere, Backes said. A popular Kansas City attraction for more than 25 years. The search now is to find a place to put the boat and the treasure inside. There was an error processing your request. 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,. The Church of St. Paul's Shipwreck is one of the oldest Roman Catholic parish churches in Malta and is dedicated to St. Paul's brief time on the island. By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. under the cornfield of retired magistrate Norman Sortor. The first mystery is, of course, how a boat that sank mid-river ends up buried in a field. 400 Grand Blvd. How had all this come about? (writer) Cast Produced by Film Editing by Joi Shilling Jeff Van Bockern See also The treasures contained within painting a vivid picture of . Ours is a tale of treasures lost, says Hawley. From clothing, fine china and carpentry tools to guns, dishes and childrens toys to the worlds oldest picklesthe collection captivates visitors of all ages. The Malta lies in a cornfield 1,000 feet from the Missouri River due to the river's changing boundaries. >> HE BROUGHT DRILL, AND FROM 37 FEET BELOW GROUND PULLED UP 150 GOLD BUTTONS FABRIC, WELL-PRESERVED CERAMIC AND A LARGE IRON HOOK. >> PEOPLE SAY, I KNOW WHERE ITS AT. "If we can find and secure a location, we'll dig it next year, he said. The lost cargo of liquor made the Arabia famous, Hawley says. At the tail end of 1988, the treasure hoard of the Arabia was finally unearthed, the team working in the freezing cold. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. But as winter moved into spring, their time ran out. Now Hawley and his team are excavating another steamboat, again buried not underneath the waters of the Missouri, but in a field a few miles southwest. The diesel-fueled generators and water pumps fell silent, and the remains of the giant side-wheeler Arabia were once again buried over, ready for that years crops to be sown. Buried treasure: Long lost Steamboat Malta found under Missouri farm land, TREASURE. While the Arabia lies once again dormant in the cornfield, plans are already underway for the next excavation this winter: the steamboat Malta. "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. Visitincludes a series of short videos that show the story of this historic excavationanda short movie. The treasures contained within painting a vivid picture of western expansion and the treacherous frontier. Hes had discussions with other cities in Missouri and even some in other states. The city of Malta Bend, Missouri, is named for the sunken ship. She also carried 130 passengers, mostly women and children, who were traveling to meet the husbands who had forged ahead to settle the land. As more and more facts emerged from our investigation, the possible search areas became fewer and fewer, until by the time our search team made our most recent trip to Malta, we had narrowed down our target sites to just two relatively small areas. >> WEVE HAD PEOPLE OUT HERE BEFORE LOOKING FOR IT. According to David Hawley, the leader. That same year, he found his first boat, the Missouri Packet, whose engine is now at the museum. 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. The treasures contained within painting a vivid picture of western expansion and the treacherous frontier. First one needed to learn to research, then use a metal detector, then run equipment.. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of KMBC-TV. And because of the peculiar nature of the moving of the Missouri River bank, the collection is mint and pristine. It seems this amazing chapter of American history is overlooked perhaps our efforts in retelling the Arabias story, and that of the steamboat Malta will pass along to a future generation a glimpse of what life was once like in a younger America.. The boat lies about 50 feet deep and is situated about 1,500 feet from the Missouri River, says Hawley. "That's pretty exciting stuff, Hawley said. It's universal that people love a treasure hunting story, Hawley said. (Photo: Courtesy of the Arabia Steamboat Museum). It wasnt tough to know where to start. Hes had discussions with other cities in Missouri and even some in other states. The town has a single four-way stop, a single restaurant and field after field of corn. He brought in a large drill and after going 37 feet underground, they hit something and pulled out the only core sample taken. "It's the boat and it's full of stuff, Hawley said excitedly. Closed one hour early onMemorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Halloween and New Year's Eve. The only town I know of that was named for a steamboat, Hawley said. We don't have any reviews for Cornfield Shipwreck. Over the past year and a half, BASE Institute has been involved in painstaking research into Luke's amazingly detailed account of Paul's voyage and shipwreck off the coast of Malta, as recorded in Acts 27. In Malta Bend, Missouri, there's one that sank loaded down with expensive and rare trading goods,. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). He can't do this work alone working with construction companies and archaeologists since beginning the search for the Malta. Sign up here to receive our free digital version of Personal Update. Household matches are dry enough to light the cords of still fragrant tobacco, that could still be smoked in the dozens upon dozens of preserved, delicate clay pipes. We're doing a lot more right than we are wrong, he said. The plan was to bring the banks closer together, and by narrowing the width of the river, speed up the current, making boat passage much faster. The search now is to find a place to put the boat and the treasure inside. Advertisement for the Arabias final voyage; steamboats were used to carry both passengers and cargo. Until then, the items waiting to be catalogued are preserved encased in ice blocks. Other locations for Paul's shipwreck on Malta have been suggested based on geographical analysis and the discovery of Roman anchors. 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. 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 treasures contained within painting a vivid picture of western expansion and the treacherous frontier. Cornfield.Shipwreck.1080p.HDTV.x264.AAC.MVGroup.org.mp4 (1269.85Mb) Subtitles: [eng], Categories: History | Joi Shilling | Curiosity TV | 2019 | English | Name, Cornfield.Shipwreck.1080p.HDTV.x264.AAC.MVGroup.org.mp4, https://docuwiki.net/index.php?title=Cornfield_Shipwreck. As always, the Bible proved itself reliable and historically accurate. If we find beads or pipes, were off to the races, he said. (Photo: Luke Spencer). As an assistant producer on Up To Date, my goal is to amplify voices of people who serve as pioneers in their respective fields while shedding light on issues that affect underserved communities. Around this time last year, his metal detector found high concentrations of metal in a field owned by farmer Jim Backes. You can reach me at. "It's real exciting.. The locations of the metal, he said, aligned with the layout of a 19th century steamboat, with the highest concentrations in spots where an engine, boiler and paddle wheels would be. During the latter half of the 19th century, the Corps of Engineers undertook projects to forcibly alter the shape of the Missouri River. The vast engine boilers emerged, and the shape of the main deck gradually appeared from the earth. 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 vast amounts of chopped wood required to fuel the steamboats meant the rivers were littered with lethal remnants of logs, known as snags. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. History Documentary hosted by Joi Shilling, published by Curiosity TV in 2019 - English narration [] Cover[] InformationCornfield 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. A 19th-century steamboat moored at a river bank. Marking the outline of the Arabia; 45 feet deep and about the length of a football field. A white outline marks the spot where a buried treasure may soon surface. Hundreds of 1800s steamboats were lost to the Missouri River, hidden deep beneath riverbeds and farmfields. Backes grew up on the farm and has lived in Malta Bend for much of his life. The drill cranked 37 feet down. MALTA BEND, MISSOURI IS HOME TO A SINGLE FOUR WAY STOP AND, A LOT OF CORN. The boat sank in 1841 near Malta Bend, Missouri. "These are national treasures, Hawley said. Drilling cant be done every day; the process is dependent on weather and dry soil. Find out where to watch online amongst 15+ services including Netflix, Hotstar, Hooq. [Bob Cornuke can be contacted at the Biblical Archaeology Search & Exploration (BASE) Institute: (719) 540-9799 or www.baseinstitute.org.]. 2023 Atlas Obscura. The artifacts are preserved and displayed at the Arabia Steamboat Museum, located in the historic City Market. (Photo:Courtesy of the Arabia Steamboat Museum). It'll be a lot of work, and a lot of money, but to Hawley the prospects are bright. What had our expedition yielded? Cornfield Shipwreck Kansas City, MO 64106, A popular Kansas City attraction for more than 25years. Lost for 132 years, its recovery in 1988 was like finding the King Tuts Tomb of the Missouri River. The steamboat Malta begins to reveal its 175-year-old mystery. 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. Visiting the lab, I saw, among the artifacts being cleaned that day, a sawmill vise, cast-iron stove hinges and yet more shoes. Spots along the outline of "hits" are marked with red flags; misses are marked with white flags. People, you know, a mile away figured it might be on their property or whatever.. "That's pretty exciting stuff, Hawley said. Over time, the Missouri River cut a new channel and moved, leaving the boat buried deep under what is now a Missouri farm field near Malta Bend, Missouri. 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. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. He said there had been speculation for years that the boat was somewhere in the area, but was surprised to learn it was on his land. Hawley has been searching for steamboat wrecks up and down the Missouri River for more than 30 years. Discovered by an unlikely team of amateur historians 45 feet beneath a Kansas cornfield, the Steamboat Arabia is one of the best-preserved shipwrecks >> ITS UNIVERSAL THAT PEOPLE LOVE A TREASURE HUNTING STORY. We didnt dig the boat to create a museum, says Hawley. >> THESE ARE NATIONAL TREASURES. And - most important of all - we had photos and videotape of a physical, verifiable artifact which, with all reasonable certainty, we could identify as having been specifically mentioned in Scripture! 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. 11K views, 133 likes, 9 loves, 3 comments, 58 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Curiosity Stream: When the Steamboat Arabia sank, some said she carried. >> DAVID HAWLEY IS HALF STEAMBOAT HISTORIAN, HALF TREASURE HUNTER. "We've been working on it for years to get it to this point, Hawley said. This paint forms an outline in the farm field, a rectangular shape 140 feet long by 22 feet wide. What we found was a classic first-century Roman anchor, as used on Alexandrian ships sailing on official Roman business in Paul's day. Bringing the world into focusthrough the lens of Scripture. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. 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. There were no casualties when the Malta went down, but the boat and its cargo of trading supplies proved a valuable loss. After all, theyve gotten lucky so far. When the mighty Steamboat Arabia sank near Kansas City on September 5, 1856, she carried 200 tons of mystery cargo. "It's the boat and it's full of stuff, Hawley said excitedly. It wasnt tough to know where to start. "That's as good of history as it gets, Hawley said. KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and powerful storytelling. 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