TITANIC:The Artefact Exhibition Melbourne Museum

Visit the Melbourne Museum to see the much feted Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition. It is only on until 17 October 2010. Put this first on your places to visit in Melbourne . It is so poignant to see the personal effects and learn about the passengers who perished on this maiden voyage. No doubt they set out with such optimism, a spirit of excitement and adventure only to become part of the world’s most tragic maritime disaster. They were young people, people in the prime of their lives, successful business people, entrepreneurs of there time. It was so sad to read about their lives and the tragedy that ensued.

Hot of the Press: Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition has been extended to 7 November 2010, due to public demand.

Places to visit Melbourne Museum TITANIC the Artefact Exhibition

Visit "TITANIC the Artefact Exhibition" Melbourne Museum Melbourne City

It is a very moving exhibition made even more so when you are given a replica Boarding Pass with the name and details of an actual passenger who sailed on the Titanic. This becomes even more poignant  when you come across an item that may have belonged to that person. There were such personal items recovered as perfume bottles, powder compacts, jewelery,  toothbrush, a neck chief etc, just to mention a few of the items.

I was fascinated (as a past pottery maker) to see pottery bowls, still looking brand new, lying neatly stacked in rows as they were found on the ocean floor after almost 100 years. Presumable they had been stacked neatly in a wooden drawer or box, but the drawer no longer evident having rotted away over time on the sea bed.

TITANIC the Artefact Exhibition Melburne Museum

On the Grand Staircase. TITANIC the Artefact Exhibition Melbourne Museum

The exhibition has room recreations of:

  • Passenger gallery,
  • the magnificent Grand staircase which provided access for First Class passengers to the decks,
  • third Class Gallery-basic cabins for passengers travelling in steerage;
  • the Iceberg Gallery where you can find out just how cold it was on the night the Titanic sank -2 degrees;
  • Seabed Gallery which shows where the Titanic was found and the process of artefact recovery and conservation measures.
  • Finally the Memorial Gallery. This is where you will find out if the person on your Boarding Pass is listed as someone who was lost (over 2,200 passengers lost their lives), or listed as one of the survivors (778 passengers)

Exhibition Entry: Includes entry into the Titanic Exhibition and the Melbourne Museum. Adults:$24. Children:$16  Charges. Cons: $18.

Official VIP Package: If you wish to avoid the crowd there is a special Official VIP Package to see the Titanic – the Artefact Exhibition with an evening private viewing session.

Package: $79.50pp (plus $2.75 per ticket booking fee)  Package plus Audio Guide $85,50pp (plus $2.75 per ticket booking fee)

At the Exhibition they have a professional photographer to take your photo as you enter, and if you wish, on the recreated magnificent Grand Staircase. There is no obligation to purchase these photos, which you can preview on completion of the tour. The cost is $25 for two or $30 for three.

FACTS ABOUT THE TITANIC

Why was the Titanic considered unsinkable at the time:

During its construction it has been described in the press as ‘practically unsinkable.” This particular phrase had been used for decades as ships had watertight compartments to limit flooding in case of accidents and applied to most ships of the time. The Titanic had been dubbed ‘unsinkable’ as it had been designed by some of the most experienced engineers using advance technologies of the time, which incorporated extensive safety features. In 1912 it was difficult to imagine an accident occurring that could be severe enough to send the majestic Titanic to the bottom. It was therefore unimaginable to most people and a great shock when the Titanic sank which such a tragic loss of life.

When did the Titanic sink:

The Titanic struck the iceberg at 11.40pm on Sunday, April 14, 1912 and sank in just 2 hours and 40 minutes at 2.20am the next day

Where is the Wreck of the Titanic located?

The wreck of the Titanic is located 963 miles northeast of New York and 453 miles southeast of the Newfoundland coastline. The ship lies 2.5 miles beneath the ocean surface.

How many Survivors were there?

There were a total of 2,223 people on board the Titanic of which only 706 (less than a third) survived. The number who perished is 1517 with the majority of deaths caused by hypothermia. The temperature was  -2 degrees C. At this temperature death would occur in less than 15 minutes.

The oldest living survivor of the Titanic was a woman named Millvina Dean. Sadly Millvina Dean passed away on May 31, 2009 at 97 years of age.


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