Steamboat Arabia - Local Excavation Dig

The Steamboat Arabia sank on September 5, 1856 while traveling on the Missouri River. It sank within minutes, but the 150 passengers aboard were able to get off safely. The same could not be said for the 200 pounds of cargo on board. In 1988, a local AC and furnace repairman, along with his sons and another long time friend, the found the possible location of where the steamboat sank and began their recovery efforts. It took nearly five months, but they were able to discover the largest pre-Civil War artifacts in the world. All of this, and more of the ships story, can be found in Kansas City's River Market. 

We first visited the museum in the winter of 2018. McKinley was in first grade and was obsessed with the idea of a sunken steamboat and the recovery efforts involved. Having no idea what to expect, we were amazed by all this museum had to offer. The museum opened in 1991 and preservation work continues today, cleaning more than 60 tons of artifacts in their onsite preservation lab where visitors are able to watch them work. It's fascinating!

Here is a look inside the museum and the artifacts that are currently on display. Be prepared. It's truly amazing!

This isn't even the beginning of the remarkable work that has been completed with this excavation. The preservation work is phenomenal. 

If you haven't been to see this incredible museum, take the family over spring break! The River Market area is a fun place to explore as well. You can visit the Steamboat's website here to get hours and ticket pricing. 

I love exploring Kansas City and sharing it's rich history with all of you. Get out and see what makes this city so amazing!

XO,

Andrea

The Truman Library - History at Your Fingertips

 We visited the Truman Library this weekend after it's extensive remodel. The museum was closed during most of 2020 for Covid and all of 2021 for the renovation. The end results were impressive. I attended the museum several times as a child and it was one of my favorites. My husband and I attended years later, and at that time it was under a different renovation, but we were able to see the traveling Smithsonian Presidential Portraits which was a big surprise and amazing to see. 

I wanted to highlight this museum for the upcoming spring break season. President Harry S Truman is not only local, he was very integral in molding several aspects of not only Independence, MO, but Kansas City as well. He was a County Court judge in Jackson County, he owned "Truman & Jacobson", a haberdashery, with his army friend Eddie Jacobson and the store was located at 104 West 12th Street in downtown KC, he was elected to the US Senate as a Democrat for the state of Missouri, the Vice-President under Franklin Delano Roosevelt, taking office after the death of Roosevelt, to become the 33rd President. He then became our  34th President, after a controversial early call for Thomas Dewey, from the press. In his post Presidential life, he was responsible for the creation of the Former Presidents Act.

President Truman was most known for his efforts to end WWII with the dropping of the A-Bomb on Hiroshima. What I didn't realize was how much he did during his very short time in office. Yes, he was the President after Roosevelt, and during his own four year term, but in those eight years he established his place in history. The museum is full of information regarding his time in office, his peace talks with leaders of other countries, handwritten letters to family and foes, his belief in Civil Rights, and so much more. We spent nearly two hours visiting the museum and we could have spent several more. 

Here are some photos from our time there that highlight this historical figure that is truly right in our own backyard.

President Truman was my grandfather's favorite president. When I asked my dad why, he said it was because he saw Truman as a simple man, he ended the war that he himself was in, and that he was a democrat. 

The exhibits within the museum are very interactive. McKinley enjoyed taking the quizzes, figuring out how to strategically aim bombs during WWI when Truman was a Captain in the army, examining the artillery, and pulling out all the draws in the haberdashery to learn more about the store. It held his interest in a way museums like this have in the past. And there is so much more to see than what I've share in photos. A replica of the Oval Office, cars that Truman owned, his personal office, and a mural painted by Thomas Hart Benton. Want to see all of this and more, head here for all the details and to purchase your time stamped tickets.

History at your fingertips!

XO,

Andrea

Kindness Rocks

Several years ago, while on our annual trip to VA to visit family, McKinley found a rock at his feet. But this wasn't any ordinary rock, it was what we refer to as a Kindness Rock. It had a sweet little saying "Always Try", which was so fitting at that time. McKinley used to always tell us, "But we can try." So this rock was meant for him. It currently resides on his bookcase in his room.

Fast forward to earlier in the month when McKinley and I created several different kids crafts for a March segment on Better Kansas City. It's spring break in these parts, and we're all looking for kid friendly activities that help get us all off of our screens and doing something creative! McKinley and I discussed different types of projects we have worked on in the past, making a list of which ones would be better for the segment, and the Kindness Rock from VA was mentioned. And because of spring break, it was the perfect time to create a few rocks so that we can leave them at local parks around the neighborhood. Want to create your own? The read on to get a list of materials you need to complete the craft!

You need rocks, of course, so head out into this gorgeous spring weather and pick up some flat oval rocks. If you can't find any, pick some up at your local craft store. I found these at Michael's. They are smooth, flat river rocks in black. You also need acrylic paint in a variety of colors, paints pens, paint brushes, and any surface for painting. I love paper plates, but use what you have!

I painted all of the rocks white so that the acrylic paints would be vivid on the rocks. If you leave them black, that's fine, just know your paint won't be as bright in color. Paint the fronts and backs.

Paint your rocks in a variety of colors. Again, paint the front and back.

Next up, it's time to write on those rocks! We used paint pens, again found at Michael's. Pick complimentary colors, if you want, or go with whatever color speaks to you like McKinley did! No rhyme or reason for him. And let your kids get creative with their sayings. And if there are misspelled words, so what, it's the thought that counts!

Here are the completed rocks! I love them and I love that his heart is on each of these rocks! Again, he picked all the sayings, wrote them all himself, and I'm so proud of him! To finish them off, make sure you coat them with an outdoor  protectant so the paint doesn't run if they get wet. Head out to a local park and place them in friendly areas. Make sure they aren't in places that people will trip over them, but find them organically. 

If you decide to create Kindness Rocks of your own, please post all of your works of art on my This Kansas Mama Facebook page! We would love to see your inspirational sayings! Everyone needs a little kindness in their lives!

Check out the segment here for additional kid craft ideas or come back soon for more posts to come!

XO,

Andrea