Have you heard about “The Titanic of the Mississippi?” Though it’s considered the biggest maritime disaster in the US, few know about this unfortunate incident and its casualties. The Sultana was a paddlewheel steamboat from the American Civil War era. When the steamboat sank just north of Marion, Arkansas, on April 27, 1865, over 1,800 of the Sultana’s 2,300 passengers and crew were killed.
If you wish to learn more about this tragic event, you should visit the Sultana Disaster Museum. The museum explains the construction of the Sultana and details of its passengers and final journey. You will embark on a voyage through the steamboat’s past, including its destruction and the disaster’s ramifications.
You can also access an account of the passenger’s origins, who they were, and where they came from. The museum also exhibits stories of the rescuers and eyewitnesses.
The Sultana Disaster Museum was constructed in 2015 and covers less than 1000 square feet. It will soon be replaced by a permanent modern museum with cutting-edge ideas and state-of-the-art concepts, measuring close to 17,000 square feet.
You should add the Sultana Disaster Museum to your travel itinerary while in Arkansas.
What is unique about the museum?
The Sultana Disaster Museum stands as an insignia of the disaster and colossal human loss whose history has remained unknown to many. It is a commemoration of all lost lives and a tribute to their undying spirits.
The Sultana’s catastrophic explosion and sinking remain inscribed in history thanks to the museum. The tragedy that occurred ten miles north of Memphis is also a part of Civil War history. Most people traveling on the Sultana were recently freed Union troops on parole from the Confederate prisons at Andersonville and Cahaba.
The US government had a deal with the Sultana to return these former prisoners of war to their homes. They were being transported to Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and other states. The main reason the boilers exploded and the Sultana faced its doom was the overloading of the ship. The legal capacity of the Sultana was only 376 people; however, more than 2,300 passengers were on board the steamboat when it sank.
A steamboat explosion occurred when the Sultana was outside Memphis, Tennessee, at about 1:00 in the morning. After the explosion, men and women who had suffered severe burns were hurled into the cold water. Those who survived battled the powerful currents to stay alive.
The knowledge and recollections of the survivors give a detailed insight into the event. This makes the site very special, and you should visit the museum once to pay your ode to one of history’s greatest maritime tragedies.
What are the highlights of the museum?
The museum’s main attractions are the legacy and life stories of the people on board the steamboat on that tragic night in April 1865. The incident undoubtedly involves tragedy and greed, but it also tells a story of humanity and sacrifice.
This museum offers visitors a look into the Sultana’s past and the mayhem that followed its departure. When the boat was discovered, various relics and a replica of the boat were collected. You will enjoy visiting this museum if you are a fan of history or keen to learn more about the American Civil War.
If you don’t know anything about the Sultana, an eight-minute film will familiarize you with all the necessary information regarding the steamboat and the carnage.
You will get to explore graphics and artifacts that provide information on the event’s causes. One of the exhibit’s distinctive centerpieces is a 14-foot-tall replica of the Sultana. Writings on the wall display all the 1,800 names to commemorate the people who lived and died.
The Sultana Disaster Museum is located at 104 Washington St, Marion, Arkansas- 72364. The museum is open from Thursday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. On Sundays, it is open only from 2-4 pm. The museum remains closed Monday to Wednesday.
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