Perhaps the most famous cruise ship disaster in history, the tale of the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic has fascinated people around the world for more than a century.
Among the largest, most luxurious and technologically advanced ships of its time, the Titanic was touted as unsinkable. But on April 15, 1912, it collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean near Newfoundland, Canada.
A new exhibition opened July 26 at metro Atlanta’s Exhibition Hub, a venue for immersive entertainment, in partnership with Fever, White Star Memories and a collaborative of Titanic collectors.
Titanic: An Immersive Voyage features more than 300 artifacts from Titanic and its sister vessels the Olympic and the Britannic, as well as objects from Carpathia and Californian, two additional ships key to Titanic’s story, according to a news release.
“Titanic is the most enchanting ship of all time and is revered by many as an iconic gem,” said John Zaller, executive producer at Exhibition Hub. “We’re delighted to tell this immortal story in our signature humanistic and immersive style, and to share it with guests around the world. We could not be more appreciative of the collectors who have joined us on this journey.”
Items showcased in the experience were curated from multiple collections including treasures from Kevin Saucier, the owner of one of the largest private collections of Titanic memorabilia in the world as well as priceless artifacts from the collection of Spencer Knarr.
Zaller created his first Titanic exhibit 24 years ago while living in Cleveland. When the opportunity presented itself to refresh the experience, he didn’t hesitate to “come aboard.”
“We’re always learning. We’re always pushing ourselves and I do think that this content turned out incredibly well,” he said. “I think what I really accomplished was a more emotional connection.”
For those more familiar with the 1997 Oscar-winning motion picture, the exhibit begins with props from the film and a replica of the bow where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Jack shouts “I’m king of the world!”
And if you haven’t seen the movie and know little about the history, there’s still plenty to enjoy. The clothing, dishes, décor and furnishings of the period in the life-sized reconstructed rooms harken back to an era where first-, second- and third-class passengers were treated to grandeur and affluence.
Those more intrigued by the engineering will see a simulation of the fateful crash that claimed about 1,500 passengers as well as a replica of the helm recreated from a sister ship and the schematic drawings of the original design.
Just about everyone will enjoy the 3D views, video animations and state-of-the-art VR technology that creates an immersive experience taking the observer on a riveting and emotional journey through one of history’s most iconic tragedies.
“You’re going to find something that you connect with that’s the whole point of this particular experience. We did something in the Titanic for everybody,” said Zaller. “Our expertise in exhibition design and immersive storytelling creates an unforgettable emotional connection to Titanic.”
Images by Bruce Johnson
