by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)
For years, an effort has been underway to build a museum to commemorate the sinking of the Sultana, a Civil War steamboat that sank April 27, 1865, in the choppy waters of the Mississippi River near the city of Marion. An estimated 1,200 passengers died making it the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history.
The Sultana Disaster Museum on Tuesday (July 19) received a $1 million grant from the American Rescue Plan. Garland and Saline counties each received $1 million grants from the ARP to develop trail systems.
For the museum to receive the grant, locals had to put up a $250,000 match. The project will create 90 jobs and generate $200,000 in private investments.
On April 27, 1865, the steamboat Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River about 7 miles from Memphis.