Titanic. The word looks so small when I read it on the screen. But there is nothing small about it. A few years back Titanic was the biggest blockbuster the movies had ever seen. And nine decades earlier some of the biggest names of commerce, art and politics boarded the largest moving object built by man, the Titanic.

Until a few years ago this ill-fated ship rested quietly two and a hlaf miles below the ocean's surface. In 1994 RMS Titanic, Inc. was granted the right to recover the artifacts from the ill fated ship. These artifacts were painstakingly recovered, meticulously catalogued, and carefully preserved in a new traveling museum show: Titanic: The Artifacts Exhibit.

Upon entering the well designed exhibit you're immediately immersed into the time and place that was the docks of Southampton, England, Wednesday, April 10, 1912. The docks lead you, "the passenger," through exhibits that recreate the first class hallway, with glimpses of rooms featuring furnishing made by the original manufacturers. As you move deeper through the exhibit you also get a feel for how the "hoi poloi" lived. Their rooms, complete with cramped bunk beds, are recreated for your inspection.

You will take a stroll through the Veranda Café to the Titanic's first-class Grand Staircase, styled in 17th century William and Mary. This full size recreation is paneled in oak and includes a gorgeous glass skylight.

As you continue through the exhibit you can't help but get a feel for the humanity that lived onboard during the Titanic's one and only voyage. There are many displays showing such everyday items as eating utensils and men's shaving supplies -- everyday items that force you to realize there were real people who tragically met their end on this ship.

One of the most chilling (literally) displays is the iceberg recreation where you can feel for yourself what it must have been like in the water. See how long you can keep your hands on hte wall of ice.

The final piece in the exhibit is a 4-ton piece of the actual Titanic hull brought up from the ocean depths below.

We found the Titanic IMAX film being shown with the exhibit a bit slow for the general public. If you're really interested in the expedition that rescued the Titanic's artifacts, by all means, take it in, but children and those with only a passing interest will likely be bored.

The exhibit, on the other hand, is a totally fascinating and emotionally moving expeience not to be missed.

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit is a traveling exhibit. This article was written after seeing the exhibit at Los Angeles' California Science Center. It is currently on display at The Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. For more information, click to www.queenmary.com/titanic.php.

 

Mitch Mandell is the co-owner and technical producer of FabulousTravel.com and it's sister site FabulousFoods.com. Click here to learn more about Mitch.