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Secrets Of The Sea Revealed In New Exhibit At M.S.I.
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Secrets Of The Sea Revealed In New Exhibit At M.S.I.
by Tom Lounges
Once heralded as unsinkable because of it's tremendous size and
state-of-the-art design, the majestic ocean liner S.S Titanic went down not
only in history as planned, but also into the depths of the North Atlantic.
Sinking while on it's maiden voyage in 1912, the wreckage rested in the
dark fridge waters for nearly 80 years undisturbed, seemingly never to be
seen by human eyes again.
Thanks to the wonders of modern engineering and technology, a 13-ton steel
plate from the hull from the ill-fated ship will be gazed upon by thousands
of eyes over the next few months when it becomes the centerpiece of an
expansive new Titanic exhibit at Chicago's Museum of Science And Industry.
"Titanic: The Exhibit" will open to the public on February 18 and run
through September 4, following a special press preview that The Midwest BEAT
will be attending.
The focus of the exhibit is to clear up the many myths surrounding the
tragedy and to set the historical record straight about what really happened
on that cold and crisp April night to the crown jewel of the White Star Line.
The mammoth steel plate with it's horriffic jagged edges measures 13 feet
wide by 20 feet long and is believed to have been the outer wall covering a
section of first class cabins. It was in that very section that some of
wealthiest aristocrats of that era were being housed, including John Jacob
Astor and Molly Brown.
Salvage crews first attempted to raise the piece of hull from the ocean
floor in 1997, but a wench cable snapped when it was only a few hundred feet
from the water's surface and it went cascading back to the depths. The hull
fragment was finally brought up in 1998.
Originally encased in glass and bathed in chemicals and electrical
currents to remove layers of salt water corrosion and rust, the hull has been
treated with a special oil to help prevent further oxidation damage.
Thanks to this restoration process, people who visit the exhibit will now
be able to actually reach out and touch a piece of history that has been
romanticized and dramatized in books and films almost since the very day of
the sinking.
Aside from the massive chunk of hull, visitors to the exhibit will be
able to see nearly 200 other artifacts taken from the wreckage. These are
items from the ship itself and also from some of the passengers whose bad
fortunate it was to have secured passage on the Titanic. Rescued glasses,
dishes, a pocket watch, and various furnishings are included among the
artifacts.
Adding to the eeriness of the experience, visitors to the exhibit will be
able to walk on decks made to resemble those from the Titanic. The museum is
also recreating the ship's engine room, a first class cabin, a third class
cabin and the opulent grand staircase. Each of these elaborate recreations
has been crafted to exact specifications of those from the original ship.
During special viewing times, a cast made up of museum employees will act
out depictions of life as it likely was on board the Titanic
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