Museum tells the story of the greatest maritime disaster in U.S. history.
Museum tells the story of the greatest maritime disaster in U.S. history.
Helena photographer Thomas W. Bankes captured one of only two known photographs of the ill-fated steamboat.
Helena photographer Thomas W. Bankes captured one of only two known photographs of the ill-fated ste...
See a replica of the original Sultana at the museum.
See a replica of the original Sultana at the museum.
The replica is a main focal point of the museum.
The replica is a main focal point of the museum.
Various artifacts are on display.
Various artifacts are on display.
Pvt. William Lugenbeal's wooden curio box
Pvt. William Lugenbeal's wooden curio box
Civil War photographs of over 100 of the known Sultana POW passengers.
Civil War photographs of over 100 of the known Sultana POW passengers.
Curio box owned by survivor Pvt. Abraham Cassel, 21st Ohio Infantry.
Curio box owned by survivor Pvt. Abraham Cassel, 21st Ohio Infantry.
A visitor examines the museum's artifacts.
A visitor examines the museum's artifacts.
A closer look of the mural detailing the Sultana's destruction.
A closer look of the mural detailing the Sultana's destruction.
The 1938 Marion School Auditorium-Gymnasium, one of the most historical buildings in eastern Arkansas, will be renovated and re-purposed as the future home of the permanent Sultana Disaster Museum.
The 1938 Marion School Auditorium-Gymnasium, one of the most historical buildings in eastern Arkansa...
Monument to the tragedy in downtown Marion.
Monument to the tragedy in downtown Marion.
Museum tells the story of the greatest maritime disaster in U.S. history.
Helena photographer Thomas W. Bankes captured one of only two known photographs of the ill-fated steamboat.
See a replica of the original Sultana at the museum.
The replica is a main focal point of the museum.
Various artifacts are on display.
Pvt. William Lugenbeal's wooden curio box
Civil War photographs of over 100 of the known Sultana POW passengers.
Curio box owned by survivor Pvt. Abraham Cassel, 21st Ohio Infantry.
A visitor examines the museum's artifacts.
A closer look of the mural detailing the Sultana's destruction.
The 1938 Marion School Auditorium-Gymnasium, one of the most historical buildings in eastern Arkansas, will be renovated and re-purposed as the future home of the permanent Sultana Disaster Museum.
Monument to the tragedy in downtown Marion.

What to know

"The Titanic of the Mississippi" - Clive Cussler, award-winning author and historian

The Sultana was a Civil War era, paddlewheel steamboat whose destruction in an explosion on April 27, 1865 has the distinction as the “Greatest Maritime Disaster in United States History”. Over 1,800 of the Sultana’s 2,300 passengers were killed when three of the boat’s boilers exploded and the Sultana sank just north of Marion, Arkansas.

The Sultana Disaster Museum focuses on the steamboat itself, from its construction to destruction and the aftermath of the disaster. Passenger stories are also presented - who they were and where they came from - as well as the stories of the rescuers and eyewitnesses. Visit Marion, a small town in the Delta, and learn more about this Forgotten Tragedy

The present Sultana Disaster Museum, created in 2015, and providing less than 1000 square feet, will soon be replaced by a permanent modern museum of nearly 17,000 square feet with state-of-the-art concepts.

Sultana Disaster Museum

Phone:
Local: (870) 635-2954
Address:
140 Washington Ave.,
Marion, AR 72364
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