Here's How Death Cab For Cutie Sunk Steamboat Arabia Again In Kansas City River Market

It seems that a decent indie rock band played a part in pushing Missouri history out of Kansas City's River Market . . . And making way for the current steam of hipsters and real estate speculators.

First, a glimpse at longstanding tensions that speak to the problem of being a pioneer in any redevelopment scheme . . .

"The Arabia is probably the best-known steamboat of the era, at least in Kansas City, where for over thirty years its salvaged cargo has been on display at a museum in the City Market. The museum’s owner, Matt Hawley, has asked for more space from the city and says he was ignored. In May, he announced that he’d signed a letter of intent to move the museum when his lease expires in 2026."

Even better . . . We remember this pre-pandemic dust-up in the 20-teens that might have been the last straw . . . 

"Hawley pushed to have a concert series at the River Market canceled because he claimed a Death Cab for Cutie show was so loud that it shook his building and could damage the artifacts. The city offered to pay his insurance if the concerts could continue, but he refused. “You can’t replace these things,” Hawley says."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

The Arabia Steamboat Museum finally seems ready to shove off from the River Market

The Arabia is probably the best-known steamboat of the era, at least in Kansas City, where for over thirty years its salvaged cargo has been on display at a museum in the City Market. The museum's owner, Matt Hawley, has asked for more space from the city and says he was ignored.