Short videos play on-demand on a series of screens so that visitors have the basics of the Arabia story by the time they reach the boat's stern. This is the largest piece of the boat to be salvaged. The area where it is displayed serves as a staging area for a video on repeat that tells a more complete version of the story of the boat's recovery.

In the midst of the store-like displays, Mat Hawley introduced himself to visitors. Mat is the son of David Hawley who was instrumental in locating and recovering the Arabia. David was also present in the museum today. Although only Mat came forward to identify himself, both Hawley's were extremely friendly and readily answered questions.

As I mentioned, I spoke with both David and Mat Hawley and both had high hopes of a new location for a museum being found and that once that happened, recovery of a second cargo laden steamboat, the Malta, would begin. Loss of the museum building comes from a lease not being renewed. That lease expires in November and it has been commonly thought that the museum would remain open until near that date. Not so, I learned today. The building must be vacated by mid-November and packing up its contents will require no small amount of time. Closing is now planned for the end of July.