Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition Description
If you loved the 1997 movie "Titanic," then the Titanic exhibit at the Luxor will blow you away.
Featuring
more than 300 artifacts, as well as breathtaking replicas from the
famous ship, the Titanic exhibit truly brings history to life.
The
exhibit features 20 never-before-seen artifacts including gaming chips,
passenger papers and even decorative sections from Titanic's famous
Grand Staircase. In addition, there are many personal pieces within the
exhibit.
One of the most heartfelt elements of the exhibit is the
personal stories of the passengers. During the tour, the exhibit's
staff shares personal tales from the passengers. Some stories have a
tragic, yet romantic ending. For instance, some wives chose to stay
behind with their husbands instead of climbing onto the lifeboats.
"I
think seeing all the personal effects from all the people that perished
was very touching," said Noelle Dunn, a visitor from Jacksonville,
Fla.
At the beginning of the exhibit, patrons receive a boarding
pass of an actual passenger on Titanic. On the back of each boarding
pass is the age and the itinerary of that person. At the end of the
tour, patrons find out if he or she survived the Titanic by finding the
name on the wall memorial.
The exhibit also includes passenger
quotes. One of the most poignant sayings came from Jack Thayer, a
first-class passenger: "There was no moon and I never seen the stars
shine brighter," he said. "It was the kind of night that made one feel
glad to be alive."
Amazing artifacts
In addition to the passengers' stories, other fascinating details include their belongings.
From
a diamond and sapphire ring to a platinum pendant with diamonds, some
of the most beautiful pieces recovered from the Titanic are sparkling
jewelry. The jewels were conserved -- not restored -- and many of the
dazzling gems managed to keep their original luster.
Aside from
jewelry, plenty of the Titanic passengers brought their own china and
silverware. Each cup, plate, pitcher and bowl has its own interesting,
distinct look.
One of the exhibit's unique pieces discovered is
the au gratin plates set, stacked neatly in rows. The au gratin dishes
were found lined up inside of a wooden crate that had deteriorated over
time -- an image that is recreated in the exhibition.
Other artifacts include ship tools, postcards, currency, a pipe, a spittoon and playing cards.
The Big Piece
While
the tiny pieces leave behind a lasting impression, The Big Piece -- a
huge piece of the ship's hull -- definitely stands out.
This
piece is currently the largest Titanic artifact ever retrieved. The Big
Piece weighs an astounding 15 tons and measures more than 26 feet
long. Bringing it inside was a 48-hour process, involving cranes and a
special team of people. It's considered the crown jewel of the
collection.
Riveting replicas
In addition to the
artifacts, the exhibit also features amazing replicas from the Titanic.
One of these includes the staircase replica. Most remember the staircase
scene in "Titanic" with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Seeing the
staircase in person brings the Titanic to life.
The staircase is
where first-class passengers met, mingled and admired each other's
outfits. The intricately-detailed staircase replica includes iron,
bronze and even the stained glass dome. Visitors have the option of
having their picture taken and purchasing it at the end of the tour.
Other
noteworthy replicas include the promenade deck (which features the
sounds of waves crashing and a starry sky) as well as an iceberg, which
guests are more than welcome to touch. Since the iceberg was
specifically created for the exhibit, it contains its own cooling system
to prevent it from melting.
Make sure to stop and take a look at
the third-class and the finely decorated first-class sleeping quarters.
Adorned with burgundy colors, elegant décor and mahogany accents, the
first-class suite was considered more luxurious than any hotel room on
land in its time.
Great for the entire family
From
young to old, visitors of all ages will enjoy this exhibit. There is
also gift shop for those who want to take a piece of Titanic home with
them. Visitors can purchase everything from T-shirts, stuffed animals,
captain hats for kids, cups, key chains and much more.
Titanic's
overall experience gives guests a better perspective and appreciation of
what happened on that fateful night. It allows visitors to remember the
story of Titanic, especially the heroism of the crew and the passengers
that were lost that night.
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