Treasure in a Cornfield: The Discovery & Excavation of the Steamboat Arabia

by Greg Hawley, Debra Shouse (Editor), Dave Orf (Illustrator)

From back of dust jacket "Steaming up the Missouri River en route to the frontier, the Arabia carried 130 passengers and 220 tons of precious cargo. On September 5, 1856, a submerged walnut tree pierced her hull, sinking the Arabia one-half mile below Parkville, Missouri. In time the river changed course, leaving the Arabia and her priceless freight deep beneath a Kansas farm field...The Arabia and her treasure seemed lost forever. Then, in 1988, four men and their families dedicated themselves to achieve what others could not; to recover the treasure from the Great White Arabia. Treasure hunter Greg Hawley chronicles his amazing story of perseverance and discovery. Lavishly illustrated and carefully documented, this book is a page turning adventure that immerses the reader into the thrilling discovery of buried treasure."

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Memoir

224 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1998

Reviews

[Mitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book moved me. Maybe the affect would have been less had I not visited the museum in Kansas City, but seeing the artifacts then reading the personal account of one of the seekers was immensely moving. We all look for something of value. Sometimes what we find in our search has a different meaning, once we understand it.

This story is both real and applies to all of us who look for hidden treasure. No amount of money actually spent could account for the treasure that we can all explore as this story unfolds. Rarely in our day can we see what it's like to the leg-work it takes to unearth a ship, let alone one dug up in a Kansas cornfield.

For me this book is a treasure in itself.

[Catherine Richmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't let the fact this book was written by an HVAC repairman scare you off. This excellent story weaves together the excavation, steamboating on the Missouri, the sinking of the Arabia. The resulting museum is a time capsule of merchandise for settlers on the frontier. Highly recommended for anyone interested in US history, and the perils of following a big dream.

[Havebooks Willread · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit that my high rating might be slightly influenced by how much I enjoyed the museum located in Kansas City.

The Steamboat Arabia hit a snag which penetrated 10 feet into its hull in the Missouri River in 1856 and sank in about five minutes. All the people survived but the tons of merchandize intended for general stores upriver were buried in the mud of the Missouri.

Nearly 130 years later, the visionary Hawley family set out on an adventure with a couple of close friends to excavate the steamboat. They were treasure hunters and had big dreams of making a quick buck. They didn't realize how much work it would be or how much money it would require. They didn't realize the toil it would take on their families. Most of all, they didn't realize they would fall in love with history and this ship and ultimately decide to turn their discovery into a museum rather than a fortune.

One of the reasons the museum and the book made such an impact on me was that this experience illustrated what can happen when people are lifelong learners. The Hawley family worked together in their heating and cooling business before this adventure. They weren't college-trained historians or museum curators. They just had a passion and a love for learning so they set out to figure out where the Arabia had sunk, they investigated stories recorded about passengers who were on board, and read lots of books about beads, fabrics, dolls, and anything else they needed to know to understand the historical significance of their discoveries. I find that inspiring, especially as I sometimes fight worry along this homeschooling journey, wondering what my children will do for a living and how they will learn what they need to know. My goal is to teach them to be lifelong learners and this story reminded me how valuable that trait is.

I was also impressed with the Hawley family's determination. When the going got tough, the father frequently reminded his sons "Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent" (154). I can guarantee you I would not have persevered through such an adventure--I would have given up with the first ship they attempted to salvage (and the Arabia was the tenth ship on their list and they started looking for it after three years of unsuccessful attempts with the other ships!).

I was pleasantly surprised by the book. There are several beautiful pictures of artifacts and the excavation and his writing was much better than I expected as he did a good job smoothly interjecting research and news accounts into his personal experiences. (Frankly, I am incredibly impressed with this multi-talented family!) It reads like an adventure story and almost (almost--but not quite, I'm much too tied to security) inspires me to go on a similar treasure hunt. At the same time, he is painfully honest about the hardships his children, wife, and even spiritual life suffered as a result of his "love affair with a steamboat".

I highly recommend both the book and the museum. We were all fascinated by this modern day treasure hunt.

[Rob McClintock · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the story of the search for, discovery, and excavation of the Steamship Arabia which sank in the Missouri River in 1856. What began as a search for potential riches ended up being a saga of determination to find the lost paddlewheel steamer and then a recognition that the vast store of provisions removed from the site provide us all with a window in what the settlers on the frontier would need to survive. Hawley and his family went way over budget with this expedition but their ingenuity and perseverance is to be admired. We visited the museum in Kansas City in April 2021, and it was truly one of the best museum experiences we ever had. The writing style was a bit mechanical, taken from daily journals as the excavation went forward, but it was good to get the extra detail of the issues of dealing with underground water and how to clean and preserve the items found on the ship. I commend the Hawleys and other partners for sticking with it and giving the public access to the amazing collection of provisions that they found and saved. A great time capsule of what settlers had or thought they needed as they went west. Glad to read the book and would definitely encourage all to visit the museum and see this collection first-hand.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all when I was a student in my younger years we had a fieldtrip to the Steamboat Arabia Museum in Kansas City but I don't think I was old enough to recognize the importance of what I was seeing while being in a school tour usually ends up rushing one who would rather linger behind. And also the history bug hadn't quite bit me at this time so after reading this book I am hoping that I will get another chance to visit the museum now that I have had my eyes re-opened to the treasures that was found under a cornfield.

This book was a beautiful memoir that covered the timeframe and the efforts needed by a group of your average group of men who bit off more than they could chew yet persevered to see their efforts through. Through suffering, sacrifice and heartache they brought back to life the world of our ancestors while in doing so they erased all the pre-conceived notions of grayscale dullness with a world of bright colors, deep emotional humanity and of great beauty in a world that saw so much heartbreaking tears.

What makes the book so poignant is you can see the two men in the author's writing. Time after time he mentions all the beautiful memories and time wasted with his family as he seeks a treasure that cannot compare with what he already has. And yet like his Mr. Hyde personality he is obsessed, addicted and at the same time only there for the Arabia thus showing the conflict of man when given with what he has versus with what he can achieve - a beautiful contrast.

At the same time the book is beautifully given. Each "chapter" shows a map of the Arabia first covered in sand and then slowly revealed with each day's work/and or finds. The author then intersperses the writing with various pictures taken both at the actual site as well as the collection of pieces that have been set on display within the museum itself.

The photographs are also backed by various bits of historical trivia thrown in, stories of the past that relate both from the survivors as well as the people who lived the time and the various attempts that have led to the Arabia seeing light again. The list of what was found and made seen to the public although old is just amazing since not everything found was mentioned in the story.

A beautiful story and a beautiful heritage returned to the world of man in the end. And to be truthful it made me sad to see the picture of the Arabia being reclaimed back by the waters while it brought to me a flash of the Titanic being reclaimed by the ocean. Beauty can be snatched by the beast but sometimes it is the beast that makes beauty from the plain and everyday things that we take for granted.

~A Book Based On A True Story~

[Mommalibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well illustrated, pedestrian story of family doing something which seemed impossible.

[James Hallmark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a amazing story. Hawley and his family owned a heating and air conditioning business in Independence, MO (the Kansas City area) but were also hobbyist treasure hunters. They became interested in steamboats that sunk on the Missouri River. Though it took several efforts, they finally found the “Arabia” and excavated it over the winter of 1988-1989. What makes this story so remarkable is that the Hawley family has no expertise whatsoever in the excavation and preservation of historical artifacts. Again, they are heating and cooling guys. They just figured it out. And upon discovering nothing of financial value, they opted to open a museum in Kansas City displaying the artifacts, doing so at great personal expense (their debt upon completion of the excavation and opening of the museum was just under $1.5 million dollars...and these are not rich folks). The book is Greg Hawley’s daily story of the excavation. Frankly, the book is unremarkable. What is remarkable is that a small business owner went to this extreme to excavate the boat. That is the charm and gem of this story. Two final comments: if you haven’t done so, the museum in Kansas City is well worth the time and money to visit. Secondly, Greg Hawley tragically died in 2008 in a traffic accident while driving home from his museum. Two guys were racing on the freeway when one clipped his pickup truck causing it to roll. He was 50 years old at his passing. I very much enjoyed this story, but it is because I couldn’t believe these guys were doing this!

[Jim Gallen · Rating 4 out of 5]

1850-1869 was the Golden Afe of Steam Boating before their replacement by the railroad. The deep-hulled Mississippi boats evolved into the flat-bottomed boats suited to the Missouri. Even with modifications, an estimated 400 steamboats were lost to boiler explosions, fire, snags and other mishaps. Some cargo was salvaged, but much remained hidden beneath the waters and shifting sand of the Missouri and its changing shoreline.

The Haweys set their sights on ten wrecks before locating the “Arabia” in a corn field. Over a winter they spent many hours and dollars in cold and wet fighting mud, water and the elements while locating and unearthing “Arabia” and its cargo.

The day-by-day accounts of the trials and triumphs shed light on the efforts required to complete an onerous task such as this.

The variety of items recovered shed light on the freight transported and the stuff of daily life in the antebellum American West. Besides portions of the vessel itself, the hardware and tools, garments and buttons, cherries, pickles and champaign, all still consumable, and sardines, not consumable, speak to a diverse cargo carried by steamers of “Arabia’s” day.

This book is history and adventure combined into a short, easily readable work. Text is liberally supplemented by photos, inventory of artifacts recovered, glossary and bibliography. We should be grateful to the Hawley family and its investors for retrieving and preserving these memories and author Greg Hawley for his chronical of the process.

[Helen-Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in the City Market n Kansas City, MO, and saw a sign for a small museum about the "discovery and excavation" of the steamboat *Arabia*. The museum was utterly fascinating. On August 30, 1856, the steamboat, with full cargo and passengers, hit a submerged tree and sank within 10 minutes. Amazingly, there was no loss of like, but the ship itself and the cargo were a total loss because of the depth and speed of the water and the mud. Over the years, attempts were made to locate her and to salvage the cargo but never with any success until November of 1988. That year, Greg Hawley, family, and partners, located the *Arabia* in a cornfield, abandoned by the changing course of the Missouri River. Over the next several years and through many vicissitudes, the ship and her cargo were excavated. This book is the story of that process - how problems were discovered and solutions created, and the wonderful cargo that was rescued. And then the realization that after all this time, the cargo and all the information it revealed about life along the Missouri River needed to stay together, and the museum was created. If you are a river boat fan, a historian, or just like a good adventure story, this is the book for you.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this to read from my friend, fellow ship modeler with a background in archaeology, and steamboat crazy Vince Murphy (see my review of “Rebels Under Sail”). He got the book from the Arabia Museum in Kansas City.

The author is somewhat of a seeker of adventure who has been all over the world pursuing challenge and danger. He had known of a number of steamboats that had sunk in the Missouri River in mid-19th century, most of which have eluded attempts to raise or salvage. The “Arabia,” 171 feet long and 54 feet wide, loaded with 200 tons of cargo bound from Kansas City to points north and west, was punctured by a sunken tree and sank within a short time. Although there was no loss of life among the 130 passengers, virtually all of the cargo went down with the boat. Over the course of the next 150 years, because of erosion and other forces, the Missouri River changed course, and because the border between Missouri and Kansas is defined as the Missouri River, the Arabia became part of a farm in Kansas. There were numerous attempts at excavation of the Arabia, the most famous former one by a person who had been informed that there were numerous barrels of whiskey on board (there weren’t).

This is an epic tale from several perspectives. First is the search for the Arabia itself, truly buried 60 feet under a cornfield, using metal-finding equipment, and after that, sinking into the wreck to retrieve core samples, to see if there is truly anything in this wreck. Turns out there was, and it spurred the next efforts, and herculean they were. In order to pay for the excavation, the author and his family attempted to receive government grants (nope, not an official archaeological dig, even though the family hired an archaeologist to keep tabs on the progress and retrieved artifacts), nor were other sources of government or private funds, necessitating approaching the bank on several occasions to pay for this project.

And what a project! First they had to dig wells to pump out the water (oh yeah, there was a subterranean water table that was a constant source of irritation), in order to even get to the ship itself, which involved drilling a total of twenty wells, all with pumps, to eliminate water down to 75 feet. The sheer largeness of this dig becomes more apparent as the book goes on. Oh yeah, and all this in the middle of January, 1989, with bitter cold and wind chills, because the excavators didn’t want to wait till the summer rains would make the project well nigh impossible. The author’s father is described as the most energetic participant in this effort, having done so in previous projects.

Even when the Arabia was finally uncovered, it was in painful, agonizing stages, with the family having to slog through sand and mud to even get to the deck. But when the highest structure was reached (the upper decks had been destroyed by river current in the months after the sinking), the left paddlewheel, then the reader shares the joy and relief of the author and the others. The remainder of that section of the book describes the uncovering of the huge boilers and related hardware, as well as, among other things, the skeleton of a mule, the only casualty, as it had been tethered and had been too stubborn to save itself.

The next section describes the finding of the cargo, which includes clothing, nails, wood for a house, hinges, doorknobs, plates, buttons, silk (most of the cotton had deteriorated), boots, hats, candles, decorative bottles, oil lamps, all showing what a family or merchant on the frontier would need. I should mention that the book has many pictures of both the dig and the cargo (which had to be preserved over time, another source of both innovation and stress, as the participants basically had to teach themselves the techniques, with no help from professionals or academicians). This for me was the most exciting part of the book, as I felt I shared the wonder of discovery with the author.

The last section depicts the decision by the family not to sell the cargo, but to keep it together and display it, finally in a building in Kansas City. Pictures of the displays (totally put together by the family) show many beautiful and utilitarian items, well preserved and cleaned. The book also has frequent diagrams of the steamboat showing at first how much was excavated, and then the progress of removing the cargo. There is a two-page diagram towards the end showing what items were boxed up or put in barrels at every part of the hold. Additionally, there is a listing of the items that had been preserved and catalogued (some were still in process), going some 18 pages, as well as listings by a number of companies that had had cargo listed for shipping on the Arabia.

Finally, of interest to me from the point of view of my profession as a psychologist, the author points out a number of times during the book the strain his adventure had on his family life; he would get in late, get up early, missed much of his kids’ lives, and his marriage was put under constant strain, added to by the family’s having to put themselves further and further in debt to continue the project. Seems that it was a great relief all around when it was all done, though much of the preservation process seemed to be anticlimactic. Vince told me that Mr. Hawley had died in an auto accident in 2009. Seems quite sad, after all that time away from his family.

I would recommend this short (224 pages) book, which crams a lot of readable information into a brief tome. Those interested in history, riverboats, archaeology in the field, adventure, danger (oh yes, there was that) and the thrill of discovery would very much enjoy this book. Five enthusiastic stars.

[Jill Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I expected to just sort of peruse this book and get myself prepared to visit the Steamboat Arabia Museum in Kansas City MO for my birthday.
BUT - I thoroughly enjoyed it!! (In spite of losing it under a stack of laundry for 3 weeks 🤦🏻‍♀️) I strongly suggest that anyone thinking of visiting the museum read it! Actually - anyone would enjoy it.
The book is very well written, gives you an idea of the personalities of the hunters and a great feel for what our travelers took West with them. The chore they undertook sounds so daunting. And expensive. I’m looking forward to giving them my $13.50 when I visit!!

When you finish the book be sure to listen to Pete Seeger sing the ballad Young Charlotte on YouTube.

[Diane Lybbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Treasure hunters seek a paddle wheel steamboat sunk over 100 years ago. Due to the shifting river beds the boat is now deep beneath a cornfield. Utilizing heavy machinery to find the boat, then drain the water, they finally find the boat. Exciting story of victory and defeat, with beautiful pictures of items recovered, supplies for farmers and small towns being built up in westward expansion after the Civil War. This small band of adventurers, mostly family, spent nearly a million dollars in the effort. The items are now displayed in a museum in Kansas City, MO.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! Living on the Missouri River, I had no idea it was such a freeway for steamboats! To think there are still close to 300 of them, undiscovered underground! I was shocked at the amount of goods packed on the Arabia Steamboat, and I loved how it became a labor of love with each discovery. I've been to the museum and can't recommend the book and museum enough!

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting account of the excavation of a steamboat that sank in 1856 on the Missouri River. The book included many full-color pictures that were fascinating. The book had a few tidbits about artifacts, the people, and the history. I'm glad they turned this into a museum. I'd like to visit it someday.

[Lydia Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would like to go to the museum after reading about the discovery.

[Kent McInnis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic history of discovery and research in the preservation of a freshwater riverboat and her cargo.

[Sarah Logan-Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the book. Go visit the museum. You won’t be disappointed.

[Hannah Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Treasure in a Cornfield is a must-read for anyone who has ever dreamed of unearthing a ginormous time capsule that’s almost 160 years old or going on a treasure hunt that only asks you to lift a finger when the page needs to be turned. Color photographs, muddy adventure, and juicy historical tidbits pack every single page.

After searching for the perfect steamboat to excavate and discovering the whereabouts of the Arabia, Greg Hawley and his family invest all of their time, money, and energy into bringing the steamboat to the surface of the cornfield that protected and preserved it for many years.

Treasure in a Cornfield is a beauty, more of a portable museum than a book, each page devoted to the treasure found in the Arabia – everything from the bones of a mule to thousands of shoes. One of the most intriguing discoveries turned out to be nothing but dissolved cotton. “When he took out his hand, bright blue mud covered his glove. Dad pushed his hand deeper into the box revealing a rainbow of yellow, red, orange and green mud.”

Beginning with obtaining permission from the landowners, Norman and Beulah, and two days of precision drilling, each chapter gradually lowers the reader deeper into the sand, silt, and muck that envelops the Arabia. Nearly every page is filled with diagrams and pictures documenting the recovery, cleaning, and preservation techniques of each item that is found. Occasionally, Hawley regales the reader with vastly entertaining stories connected to a handful of items, including earlier attempts at unearthing the Arabia and the delightfully scary Frozen Charlotte doll story.

Even after all of the treasure is found and the museum opens, the book doesn’t stop, for at the very end is an inventory of everything found on the Arabia, including remnants of the last meal left uneaten before the steamboat hit a tree snag and disappeared.

Thanks to an incredible family of treasure hunters who dedicated every waking moment to the backbreaking and expensive excavation of the Arabia, each person who visits the Arabia Steamboat Museum or reads Treasure in a Cornfield will have an opportunity to immerse themselves not only in an era long gone, but also experience the wondrous adventure of unearthing that era.

[Kirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty straight-forward account of the discovery and recovery of the sunken Arabia steamboat. I'm looking forward to going back to the Arabia Museum in KC and seeing the artifacts mentioned in the book. I liked when the author was able to find out some background about the artifacts and the people on The Arabia.

[Sue]

I really enjoyed reading this book. From the story of how they found the ship to begin with, to the building of the museum at the end. I can not imagine the discomfort they went through to dig it out or the stress about money and family issues during the dig, but I am thankful they did it.Greg Hawley manages to make lists of found artifacts interesting to read.

[Royal · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife and I enjoyed the book so much, we took a road trip to Kansas City just for the purpose of going to the museum of artifacts the came off of the boat. What a great find they made. The amount of buttons and their design/color really impressed me.

We had to stop on the way, in St Louis to attend a Cardinals baseball game, go to the Budweiser Brewery and to go up in the arch.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read pieces of the book, but mostly looked at the pictures. A super fascinating story, of a steamboat that ended up in a cornfield in the Midwest. The next time I am in Kansas City I will definitely go to the museum to see the displays of over 200 tons of recovered items.

A remarkable feat by an HVAC repair man and his family!

(this book was also lent to me by my neighbor. )

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprisingly captivated by this book. I have never read this kind of book before. It was very well written, I loved seeing the pictures of the treasures they would find. I also loved the background stories of the artifacts. I hope to visit the museum when I am ever out that way.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wouldn't it be fun to find buried treasure!!

[Sheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw this museum in Kansas City and bought the book. Sounds boring, but was amazing.

[Quiltgranny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually skimmed this book since we have been to the Arabia exhibit several times. It's a great reference book with nice pictures, too.

[Jackie Simons]

Read 10/11 (I have the author as Greg Hawley)