I have to admit I’m a bit of an all things Titanic fan. Ever since I was a kid I’d been fascinated by it. I remember watching the movie Raise the Titanic in my grandmothers and thinking it was amazing. It wasn’t until years later that I found out the ship was actually split in two and would never be raised at all. It was terribly upsetting to discover. Damn you Hollywood and your lies and your snappy movie tag line of ‘They’ve Found The Titanic, There’s Just One Thing Left To Do’. Lies all lies, it will never be raised.
Raise The Titanic
Titanic Artefact Exhibition – Citywest
A few years back I went to a Titanic Artefact Exhibition in Citywest Event Centre. It was billed as ‘Real Objects Real Stories’. It wasn’t anything spectacular and the range of items on show was a bit limited.
No Idea What This Is
China
Clothes Pegs
I did buy a commemorative piece of coal which came with a certificate telling me it had really been on the Titanic. Maybe it was, maybe I’m just stupid but here’s a picture of it anyway.
Coal from Titanic
Titanic Experience – Fox Studios
I also went to a Titanic experience when I was in Fox Studios Backlot in Australia. That was back in the 1999 when the world was awash with all things Kate and Leo. The studio only remained open for two years but the experience itself was one of the better ones.
It simulated actually walking onto the Titanic itself and then rushing through the corridors wearing life jackets as it began to sink and fill with water.
Boarding Titanic
The tour was about 30-40 minutes long ending up at the grand staircase feeling like you are under water.
Grand Stairs
Underwater
Luckily enough after a few bars of My Heart Will Go On the tour rises out of the water and we are all saved!.
Grand Stairs
They also had a 65 foot long replica model of Titanic which was actually used in the filming of, well the film Titanic.
Titanic Exhibition
Titanic Experience – Cobh
My Titanic fascination has also taken me to Cobh in Co. Cork. Cobh (originally Queenstown) was the last port of call for the Titanic before she met her tragic end.
Cobh
Old Dock
There is Titanic Experience (museum) and also a Titanic Trail which is really just a whole lot of locals cashing in on the Titanic fame. The town itself is actually quite nice to visit. The exhibitions were a bit short on the wow factor but I was happy to make the trip and take a few snaps.
Harbour
Cannon
Entrance to Exhibition
Titanic Experience
Titanic – Dock and Pumphouse Tour
When news hit that the Titanic Quarter in Belfast was under construction I was beside myself with excitement. While I waited for it to open I took a road trip to Belfast to do the Dock and Pumphouse tour. I have to say that it was extremely informative. Seeing the dry dock where the ship was actually built really brings home the sheer size of the Titanic. You can see from the pictures below the length, breath and depth of the dry dock. It’s literally TITANIC in size.
Dry Dock
Pump House & Dry Dock
The tour also took us around the original Harland and Wolff offices including the drawing rooms where the plans for Titanic would have been created.
Doors to Offices
The tour also included the iconic Harland and Wolff cranes which dominate the skyline in Belfast.
H & W Cranes
While I was there the Titanic Quarter and its massive new visitor attraction was under construction. I couldn’t wait to visit but that’s for another time.
Under Construction
Great post. I love all the titanic exhibitions. Did you get to the one in Belfast after it opened?
That photo you’re unsure of looks like a ceiling rose and light fixture??? 🙂
Ah it could be a ceiling rose! Yes went to the new one in Belfast also, it was brilliant. I’m a bit of a Titanic fiend!