The Titanic Museum provides an exciting combination of discovery, adventure and education for visitors of all ages. The Titanic Historical Society's (THS) foundation, and its greatest strength, is its collection of rare, Titanic survivor artifacts, one of the finest anywhere. Many were donated by the individuals, themselves, to THS's founder and president, Edward S. Kamuda in the 1960s and '70s, the organization's early years.
Titanic Model
In addition, the collection covers a broad scope of Titanic's rich history, from original blueprints of her tank top donated by her builders, Harland & Wolff, to the 21st century where the ship has become a popular culture icon. From merchandise to movies, you will see souvenirs produced right after the sinking to colorful film posters illustrating the drama from the 1950s to the present.
Titanic's brave officers, crew and all the passenger classes are represented; stories of courage and even humor about other times and other places and people like our grandparents. One of the most famous and the wealthiest were the Astors; Mrs. Astor's lifejacket is one of the treasured mementos. Newly married Selena Rogers Cook, traveling second class, was coming to Connecticut. She saved the clothes she wore and the articles in her pocketbook, even a tooth that bothered her on the voyage! The Goldsmith family booked in third class left England to settle in Detroit, Michigan; nine-year-old Frankie lost his dad and his best friend in the sinking, artifacts and his personal recollections are here. The view from Titanic's crow's nest on the night of April 14 comes to life in lookout Fred Fleet's drawing of the iceberg. Trimmer Ernest Allen's Seamen's Discharge Book notes the date Titanic sank, when his pay stopped. The rescue ship Carpathia's first class dinner menu portrays a serene picture on the fateful night of Sunday, April 14, a few hours before the chaos of Titanic's collision. A huge bronze bell engraved with a delicate Edwardian filigree from the cable ship MacKay-Bennett is here, known as the funeral ship because she retrieved most of Titanic's victims, a powerful reminder of the disaster's aftermath.
A good starting point is the mammoth, nearly 9-foot Titanic model (pictured) that dominates one wall showing in minute detail what the largest ship in the world looked like in 1912. Nearby is an impressive miniature model collection featuring a panorama of the White Star Line highlighting famous vessels, each with their own special story, from the late 1800s, to the grand Olympic-class and Titanic, to Georgic and Britannic of the 1930s.
Titanic was powered by gigantic, reciprocating engines and you'll see a stunning three-dimensional model that actually works. Another permanent exhibit to inspect is a model of Titanic's rudder and three propellers made in the same scale as the engines.
Passengers in first class dined in exquisite splendor and you can examine selections of the ship's fine English china and place settings, even a carved oak chair from the dining room; then make a comparison with the modest accommodations in third class.
The museum is committed to giving each object the best possible care. Conservation will entail adding new items while resting others and some that are listed may not always be displayed and/or may be on loan with Titanic: The Exhibition, Orlando.
Research is essential to the work of preservation and restoration of our exhibits. Unique to our museum is that awareness in The Titanic Commutator, documenting the ship's and survivors' stories, published quarterly by the Titanic Historical Society since 1963 and available in our online Museum Shop.
Whether you live just down the street, across the country, next door in Canada, across the sea in Ireland, Britain, or halfway around the world in Japan, your life has been affected by this ship in ways you might never have imagined. For those who love Titanic and the glamorous ocean liners of the past and, are eager to broaden their horizons and travel through time with Titanic's passengers and crew, come and visit us at the Titanic Museum.
