The tragedy of the Titanic’s sinking is not news to anyone. Although it occurred 98 years ago and the last living survivor used her boarding pass for the afterlife last year, there is still something so compelling about the disaster that more than 22 million people have flocked to see Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition since its unveiling 15 years ago.
Part of the attraction, I think, can be attributed to the mysteries the ocean held until 1987, when the first of seven research and recovery expeditions returned with the initial batch of long lost objects. To date, more than 5,500 relics have surfaced and time is of the essence in the continuing retrieval process due to the bacteria and corrosion that are working overtime to destroy everything from books of matches to the ship itself.
Why should you see this exhibit? Because this brings the human aspects of Titanic’s sinking right up in your face in a way Kate and Leo never could.
First, as you have probably heard, each visitor receives a replica of a Titanic boarding pass when he or she enters. Judging by my group, women get women’s passes and men get men’s. Your pass tells you where you boarded the ship, your age, your traveling companions, your passage class (first, second or third) and a brief narrative including your reason for taking the trip.
As you travel through the exhibit, keep in mind which class you are and notice the differences in accommodations, food, etc. Throughout you will see photos of the real people involved along with their stories. Everyone is represented, from the young boys keeping the boilers running to Captain Smith–this was meant to be his last voyage before retirement–and the “famous” first class passengers with names like Guggenheim and Astor.
On your journey, you will see more than 240 of the recovered artifacts as well as recreations of cabins and halls. Just to give you an idea of how large the ship was, it carried 7,500 pounds of ham and bacon alone! When you see the sign warning of an iceberg ahead, it’s no joke. There is an actual chunk of ice there that you can touch, just to get a feel for how cold the water was (2 degrees Fahrenheit) the night of the sinking. I saw some pretty deep hand prints in it, but I was ready to take my hand away before the first minute was up! No wonder so many succumbed to hypothermia so quickly.
The final room, the “Memorial Gallery,” includes a giant wall display showing the names of all on board and you get to see if “you” survived. Looking at all those names is pretty powerful, folks. 706 survivors out of 2,209 passengers and crew. My lady and her son survived, but her husband, as was the case with most men, did not.
Be sure to make time to see these amazing pieces of history at the Indiana State Museum before the exhibit moves on January 16!
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