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The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, in Raleigh, hosts the world’s most waterlogged exhibit.
Distance
Raleigh is about 170 northeast of Charlotte, via I-85 and I-40, about a three-hour drive.
To see and do
By now, the story is as familiar as it is tragic.
Just over 100 years ago – on April 15, 1912 – RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic after colliding with an iceberg on its maiden voyage.
Titanic carried 2,220 passengers and crew members when it sank.
More than 1,500 died in the icy waters. The tragedy of Titanic has resonated through the years, immortalized in books, film, art and song.
“Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition,” now open at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, tells the story in a different way – through objects recovered from Titanic’s final resting place on the ocean floor.
The exhibition displays more than 200 artifacts from the wreck, as well as meticulously detailed recreations of the interior of the ship, including a replica of the Titanic’s bridge, a watertight door and a section of first-class hallway.
Among the artifacts on display: improbably preserved clothing, valuable jewelry and china, and furniture and fixtures from steerage quarters to the fabled Grand Staircase.
Upon entering the exhibit, you will be issued a Titanic “boarding pass” with the name, itinerary and biographical information of a passenger from the ship. In the final room, you consult a wall memorial to learn whether your passenger survived the sinking of Titanic.
Museum special events coordinator Albert Ervin said he expects the artifacts will have an emotional impact on visitors.
“People will see these things that actually belonged to the passengers – shoes, clothes, hats, spectacles. It brings the tragedy to a very human level.”
Admission is discounted Thursday evenings and the first Friday of the month.
Glenn McDonald
