Canadian Destinations

Ontario Science Museum showcases story of the Titanic

Titanic: The Artifacts Exhibition is on show at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto until January 6, 2008.

The exhibition showcases the remarkable human achievement and engineering feats behind the Titanic, from its construction, to the recovery and preservation of artifacts pulled from the depths of the Atlantic.

Real artifacts, recovered from nearly four kilometres below the ocean, tell the R.M.S. Titanic’s fateful tale along with the stories of the 2,228 souls who journeyed with her into history Wandering the exhibit halls, while holding replica boarding passes, will set visitors wondering about the fate of the real passenger whose name is printed there Visitors will feel a part of the ship’s historic journey. They can:

• Become one of the Titanic’s millionaire passengers, wandering first class estate rooms and elegant corridors where you might have bumped into brewing-magnate Harry Molson or even Lady Astor herself.

• See why hundreds of immigrants flocked to the Titanic’s third class, and why White Star said that the ship, despite only two baths for 700 passengers, would ensure “the interval between the old life and the new is spent under the happiest possible conditions.”

• Descend into the boiler rooms, and discover the men and machines that powered a ship that was as long as three football fields and weighed 46,000 tons, but could still reach speeds of 40 kilometres per hour.

• Touch a freezing iceberg and imagine what it might have been like to be one of those thrown into -2 Celsius waters, or try to fit with other visitors into a simulated lifeboat and experience being one of the lucky ones who escaped the shipwreck.

• Discover the remarkable human achievement and engineering feats behind the Titanic, from its construction, to the recovery and preservation of artifacts pulled from the depths of the Atlantic.

• See with your own eyes more than 280 artifacts from the actual ship while experiencing the sights, sounds and stories of countless passengers and crew.

Special displays throughout the centre tell the tale of the radio room operators and stories of some of Titanic’s most remarkable survivors, as well as providing factoids that will surprise even the most avid history buffs.

Visitors can take advantage of Titanic Audio Tour – Experience more than three-dozen entries throughout the exhibition, providing unprecedented detail on artifacts, passengers and the Titanic itself.

Listen to transcripts of Titanic passengers as they recount stories about their fellow travellers, and share their memories of sailing on such a grand ship.

Hear what it was like to watch the ship sink, waiting with survivors through the long cold night, hoping for rescue. Learn more about diving on the wreck, now nearly four kilometres below the surface of the Atlantic, and discover stories about the artifacts that were recovered there.

The Ontario Science Museum is located at 770 Dons Mills Road. For more information call toll-free 1-888-696-1110 or see www.ontariosciencecentre.ca.