The Titanic Museum. Wow. What an eye-opening educational experience this turned out to be. My goodness.
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Upon arriving, you are given a 'boarding pass' and 'passport.' The passport shows a name of an actual passenger who had been aboard the Titanic. It gives you a bit of that person's story, and near the end of your tour, you will discover whether or not your person survived this catastrophe.
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You make your way through a nicely built replica of a small part of what was 'the Third Class hallway' along with a 'Third Class cabin.' Be prepared. The idea of staying tucked away in this tiny cabin with more than one person is just, wow. For days? Reading about it simply does not capture the sheer smallness of it. You must see this tiny cabin.
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You make your way up 'the Grand Staircase' and through a replica of a 'Millionaire's Cabin,' and through 'the First Class hallway.'
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You have the distinct pleasure of hearing a piano throughout the upper floor--a friendly gentleman playing for the tourists; this was not a radio or record playing. He played such beautiful music. Along the wall in this room with him and his piano are large pictures of the men who played their instruments on the Ship as she was sinking. You learn their names, some of their life story, and whether or not they survived.
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Throughout the entire tour, there are walls and walls full of pictures and more pictures--stories of crew members, officers, families, the captain. The photographer, Father Brown, has a room dedicated to him, for without him, we'd have no pictures.
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The folks at the Museum were recognizing the Jews and Irish that had been onboard that awful day.
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We also had the distinct pleasure of meeting Lowell Lytle. He was dressed as Captain Smith and telling stories: not only of the Titanic and some of her passengers but some of his own stories, as he was one of the few divers who got to see the sunken Ship and retrieve artifacts. Quite the storyteller, and a pleasure to meet.
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The whole experience was just heartfelt and rather tear-jerking. My husband gets bored easily, but even he was just completely entranced with the entire tour. This place has a way of making you feel your mortality and; morality when seeing the difference between the 'classes.'
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I would highly recommend this museum to pretty much anybody and everybody. If I had this place available to see as a kid, I would have understood so much more. It comes to life for you there--it's not just a story.
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Tip: You may want to purchase tickets ahead of time.
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Note: You're asked not to take pictures or videos on the lower levels. I apologize for not having many pictures to share with you, as my family are in most of the ones I was allowed to take. :)