My Morbid Childhood Obsession With the Titanic
First of all, I have to explain that the smile on my face is NOT because I was happy about the sinking of the Titanic. Obviously, it's because I was OBSESSED with learning everything I could about what experts have named the most famous shipwreck in history. A little morbid? Maybe.
Titanic the Movie
This started before the James Cameron blockbuster movie was even released, so you can imagine how much I flipped out over that! I saw it probably 6-8 times at the theatre. I was sitting right in the middle of the very front row while my dad sat in the back, probably snoring. I know I wasn't the only one who played that two-tape VHS on repeat after it came out.
Titanic Survivor Stories
I think the fascination really started after reading this book. "Voyage on the Great Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady, R.M.S. Titanic 1912 (Dear America Series)" I loved the whole series of stories based on historical events told through the lens of a girl my age.
Down the Titanic Rabbit Hole
I learned of epic characters like Captain Edward Smith, who insisted on going down with his ship to the very end, and passengers made for the big screen like the Unsinkable Molly Brown. I read eyewitness accounts, noting the specific songs the band played as the ship sank to keep people calm.
What did they have for dinner that night on the ship? These are the details I searched for. After a deep dive, I found out there was even a man from Western Kentucky, specifically Beaver Dam, who was a passenger on the Titanic.
Ripley's Titanic in PCB
To be honest, I still nerd out over this tragic tale. When we took our last trip to Panama City Beach, Florida, we finally went to the Ripley's Believe It or Not museum for the first time. We HAD to. It was April 15th, the anniversary of the sinking of the ship. Here is our commemorative photo.
Interesting Titanic Facts
Did you know that the first newspaper headline regarding the Titanic sinking reported that everyone survived and the ship was being towed to shore? Or that the reason so many people perished was that many passengers believed the claims that the boat was "unsinkable." The builders even had so much confidence in that claim that they didn't have enough lifeboats for people.
Titanic Artifacts Exhibition
When the first collection of artifacts was brought up from the depths of the ocean, they were put into an exhibition at the Pyramid in Memphis, TN, so my parents surprised me with a trip. My mind was BLOWN.
Titanic Pigeon Forge Video Tour
Some of the objects displayed were life jackets, completely intact table settings, antique jewelry, and a pair of crew binoculars. Could they have been the ones used to spot the iceberg? There was even an unopened bottle of champagne. Most of those artifacts are now kept safe at the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, TN.
Exploring the Titanic Wreckage
Robert Ballard is credited with discovering the Titanic wreckage approximately 12,500 feet deep off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. After numerous legal battles, RMS Titanic, Inc. is the name of the company that owns and has the right to recover artifacts from the sunken liner. Out of respect for the 1,500 men, women, and children who lost their lives, there are laws surrounding expeditions that will bring items to the surface for conservation.
The Titanic Tragedy Continues
The Director of Underwater Research for RMS Titanic Inc, Paul-Henri "Mr. Titanic" Nargeolet was unfortunately a member of the five-man crew aboard the Oceangate submersible, which imploded on a dive to the Titanic wreckage. He was a French explorer and the premier Titanic expert, having completed 37 successful dives previously and personally salvaged more than 5,500 artifacts.
Visit a Titanic Exhibit Near You
There are other collections that tour museums across the country. If you ever have the chance to visit one of the exhibits, I highly recommend it. They thoughtfully honor those lost at sea while conserving treasures rescued from the skeleton of the once grandiose luxury liner.
Did you have any obsessions as a child? Historical topics or Pop Culture that had you combing the library for information? Join the Facebook conversation or send me a message, and we can chat!
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Gallery Credit: Isabel Sepulveda