Titanic: Treasures From The Deep
I was excited that the Titanic exhibit was coming to Peoria, but after hearing horror stories about the lines, I grudgingly accepted the fact that I just wasn’t going to be able to see it. As luck would have it, someone from the PR department emailed and invited me as a guest VIP. After arriving I realized being a VIP wasn’t all it was cracked up to be as I still had to wait 45 minutes, but I’m not complaining becuase that was a far cry from the FOUR HOURS the general public had to wait. And it was free. And they weren’t selling T-Shirts @ 20 bucks a pop (x3 children.)
The exhibit was nicely done with excellent use of lighting, visuals, and storyboards. The line went just slow enough to be able to read the history, from the design, building, send off and ultimate demise. Along the journey through the exhibit were stories of various passengers and some of their personal effects.
I’m sad to say I was a bit disappointed with the artifacts. There weren’t that many, and seeing a comb or a fountain pen just didn’t do much for me, but on the other hand, there were a few interesting items and it is quite amazing that these things could survive on the bottom of the ocean floor for the better part of 75 years.
Before beginning the self-guided tour, each person is given a “boarding pass” with the name and brief history of a real passenger. The tour climaxes at the end with a wall listing all of the passengers and crew, showing if they had lived or died.
My character, a 15 year old newly married Lebanese immigrant survived. Her husband did not make it. Looking up her name online using the Encyclopedia Titanica I see she remarried, had nine children and died at the age of 70. She is buried in Norfold, Va.
If given the chance, would I see this exhibit again? You betcha. Would I wait in line for four hours to see it? Not on your life.
June 7th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
I saw the full exhibit when it was in Chicago a few years ago. It is awesome, and really makes you feel like you were “there”.
June 7th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
People were waiting four hours to see Titanic artifacts? I’m curious what the Riverfront Museum bashers have to say about that.
June 8th, 2009 at 3:27 am
I saw the full exhibit in Kansas City. It was pretty neat.
James: I see where you’re going — and I like it. That’s a great idea! We can put the Riverfront Museum in a trailer! And then we could park it in various mall parking lots in the tr-county area. That should save a ton of money, and the land downtown could be put to better use. You’re a genius!