Titanic exhibit docks at Carnegie Science Center
Ralph White
While many have seen the film and watched the documentaries, it’s unlikely they’ve experienced the Titanic in the way that staff at Carnegie Science Center has planned.
Through April 15, 2024, visitors will have the opportunity to walk through a hands-on exhibit of perhaps the most famous ship in the world as part of “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.”
The traveling exhibition has been seen by 30 million people across the globe courtesy of E/M Group and RMS Titanic, Inc. (RMST), the only company permitted by law to recover artifacts from the wreckage site.
“We’re looking forward to bringing guests an unparalleled Titanic experience steeped in discovery, inspiration and human connection,” said Jessica Sanders, president of RMS Titanic, Inc. “It’s the real stories of the passengers and crew, told through real artifacts that continue to resonate with guests and capture our hearts.”
The exhibit features 154 artifacts, carefully extracted from the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean. Guests will learn about the history of those items, and see them placed in full-scale room replicas, including first- and third-class cabins.
“The authentic artifacts include things like a perfume bottle, men’s dress shoes, a Gillette razor and even cherry-flavored toothpaste which was a freebee given to passengers on the Titanic,” said Sarah Reichle, exhibits marketing communications manager at Carnegie Science Center.
A team of experts accompany the artifacts as they travel around the world, caring for each item with room temperature regulation and daily monitoring. Visitors will have a chance to learn more about the scientific ways the items are extracted from the ocean, and how they will be preserved for future generations.
Staff at the Carnegie Science Center hope visitors become engaged in the history and education that resulted from one of the world’s most infamous tragedies.
“There’s really a personal touch with the exhibit. Visitors are handed a boarding pass with the name of a passenger on the Titanic,” said Megan McKenzie, senior manager of marketing for Carnegie Science Center. “Visitors truly get to start a narrative and learn about the history from their first step into the exhibit.”
Hands-on experiences include a simulated iceberg, cooled to the same temperature of the water passengers would have experienced the night of the sinking. Guests are invited to hold their hand against the iceberg to see how long they can stand the frigid temperature.
Toward the end of the exhibit, a gallery sharing the names of passengers, both those who survived and those who died on that fateful night, allows visitors to learn more about the fate of the name on their boarding pass.
In addition to the exhibition, the science center will offer other Titanic-related activities, including screenings of the 1997 film “Titanic,” shown on The Rangos Giant Cinema screen beginning Dec. 26. “Stars Over Titanic” will be featured at the Buhl Planetarium and Observatory in the coming months, and scheduled 21+ Nights will include admission to the Titanic exhibition.
Tickets to “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” are sold separately from regular admission; however, when bundled together, guests can receive admission savings.
The Carnegie Science Center is located at One Allegheny Ave., Pittsburgh. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit carnegiesciencecenter.org.