Last week, we went to visit the new Titanic The Experience exhibit in Buena Park. I’ve seen the movie, tv movie, and some documentary, but seeing the exhibit in person was an enlightening experience. Once we got there, we were greeting by someone in character. She had an accent and was funny. I knew we were in for a unique experience when she handed us each “Boarding Passes.”
BOARDING PASSES
On the back of the Boarding Passes were our passenger names, ages, where we were from, who were traveling with us, which class we were in, where our destination was, reason for traveling, and interesting passenger facts.
We watched a short video then entered this room where it all started. She explained who all was involved engineering the Titanic (from paper to production). It was very informative and simply amazing.
In this room, it featured the beginning of the journey on the Titanic. It had pieces from the wreckage like deck lamp, light bulb, glass bulb, rope, luggage and luggage tags.
They did a lot of comparisons of the different classes (First Class, Second Class, Third Class and Crew). Pictured above is the halls of First Class. There were two millionaire suites. Doesn’t the halls resemble a lot like some of the hotels from today?
HOW MUCH WAS A FIRST CLASS CABIN?
“Titanic could accommodate over 750 first-class passengers. All first-class cabins were exceptionally large, offering fine materials and craftsmanship that rivaled that of the world’s finest hotels. Abundant closet space, private baths with full bathtubs, and hot and cold running water were standard… The cost of a first-class ticket on Titanic to New York was $2,500 (approximately $57,200 today). The two most luxurious suites on B Deck, however, were a staggering $4,500 (around $103,000 today).”
Third Class living quarters.
We met the lovely Charlotte Drake Cardeza (a Titanic Survivor) who stayed in one of the millionaire suites. She brought the most luggage on the Titanic. She also gave us some fun gossip. If you see her, make sure you say, “Hi.” It’ll add to your “experience.”
DINNERWARE COMPARISON: They compared dinnerware from the different classes. Left: Second Class, Center: First Class, Right: Third Class. You can see more in my photo gallery.
MENU COMPARISON:
They compared the menus. From Left to Right: 2nd Class, First Class, Third Class.
BOILER ROOM
“The men that worked in the boiler room were the true engines that powered the Titanic.” They shoveled thousands of tons of coal each day.
Mabel Bennett (a Titanic Survivor) was a stewardess on the Titanic. She suggested to look up Violet Jessop who was the most outspoken stewardess with memoirs.
TOUCH AN ICEBERG
“… the waters of the North Atlantic were below freezing, registering close to 28 degrees Fahrenheit. Because salt water freezes at a lower temperature than freshwater, the saltwater ocean was colder at night than the freshwater iceberg before you. As a result, most of those lost during Titanic’s sinking did not die from drowning. They died from hypothermia…”
Picture yourself on one of the lifeboats as the narrator explains what happened that night.
In this last room, you can watch a short expedition in 3D, and it will explain why they believe in preserving the Titanic.
It was such a unique and enlightening experience. I really felt I was traveling back in time from the moment I boarded the Titanic. You can see more pictures from the exhibit in our photo gallery here.
WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR CHARACTERS?
In case you get all the way home and forget to check your boarding passes if you survived, you can look it up later at www.rmstitanic.net/boardingpass. (The list is not yet complete, however, I was able to find the information by googling the names).
- Mrs. Thomas Potter Jr. (Lily Alexania Wilson) – Titanic Survivor. I looked her up and found out she was on Lifeboat 7 which was the first boat prepared. After the Titanic, she became very active volunteering for the Red Cross. She was recognized for her 27 years of Red Cross work and was the oldest volunteer (88 years old) in the South-eastern Pennsylvania Chapter. Source: http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-survivor/lily-alexenia-potter.html
- Mrs. George Dunton Widener (Eleanor Elkins) – Titanic Survivor. I looked her up and she was on Lifeboat 4. She devoted herself to charitable work after losing her husband and son to the sea. A monument honoring her generous donation to Harvard is at the Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library. She requested that no stone be touched as long as the library stands and that each graduate of Harvard pass a swimming test (her belief was that her son might survived if he was able to swim). Source: http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-survivor/eleanor-widener.html