Titanic Exhibit at Fort Worth Museum of Science & History

The Fort Worth Museum of Science & History is currently hosting a special exhibit “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit” that features hundreds of artifacts and recreated rooms, taking you back 100 years to hear their story.  As a huge fan of the classic movie, “Titanic” (who doesn’t try to recreate the ‘I’m King of the World’ scene every time they are on a ship?), this momma wasn’t going to miss the exhibit.  Kids, I promise you, you’ll love it!  And they did…… The museum has timed entries to the exhibit, which I happen to love, as it doesn’t get too crowded.  And it is an additional cost to see the exhibit.  I happen to think it was well worth it and here’s why. Also, no photography is allowed, so forgive me for lack of photos! The Titanic exhibit begins with the development and building of the ship. See actual plans, hear ship-workers accounts and learn all about Captain Smith. Who was retired and asked to lead the Titanic’s maiden voyage. The exhibit then leads you thorough recreated rooms, from First Class Staterooms to the third class bunkrooms, you learn all about how they traveled across the ocean.  Its a stunning reality to see the gorgeous private bathrooms for the rich and then find out that third class passengers had 2 bathtubs for the 700+ passengers on their deck.  See personal artifacts from recovered jewelry to dinner ware to tiles from the Grand Ballroom. As you move through, the exhibit takes you down to the “boiler room”, where the atmosphere is dark, cold and you hear the engine sounds.  A vast change from the light and happy one a few decks up. Here you can see actual tools and coal recovered from the ship.  Learn about how the ship was powered across the Atlantic, even during a coal shortage. As you walk through the timeline of events that occurred that fateful April night, you can’t help but see how this horrific accident could have been avoided. All your senses come alive at the exhibit, as you can touch a big block of ice, the temperature of an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean. Throughout the exhibit, passenger’s stories are told and it was what we loved the most – it brought the exhibit to life for us.  When you see the ticket, clothing, eyeglasses, etc. of a passenger and then hear who they were and why they were on the ship, you can’t help but feel sorrowful for their fate.  As you enter Titanic, you are handed a “passenger card” that details who they were, what class they were in and their personal story.  At the end of the exhibit, you can locate your passengers name to see if they were rescued and survived or not.  Very happily, 3 out of 4 of our families’, “passengers” did in fact survive. This exhibit was perfect for my 10 & 12 year olds – they were drawn to the artifacts and hearing the stories.  It enabled them to really understand the history better by seeing actual pieces, touching the cold iceberg, and learning about their passenger’s fate. Audio tours are offered for $5 and there is a comprehensive gift store at the end of the exhibit as well.  Additionally, you are posed for a picture at the beginning of the tour….”I’m King of the World!!!” Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition is at the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History thru March 24, 2013.  The exhibit costs $10-26.  There is special pricing for the Fort Worth Stock Show (Jan 18 – Feb 9, 2013) – $11-15.