COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It’s been more than 110 years since the RMS Titanic sank during her maiden voyage, but the fascination with the history and the tragedy of the ship has never really ceased.
A brand-new exhibit has opened at COSI: "Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition". Visitors will be able to see hundreds of real artifacts from the wreckage of Titanic. The exhibit covers more than 10,000 square feet of space at COSI and it’ll be here in Columbus through the beginning of Sept. 2.
NBC4's Monica Day got an inside look with Tomasina Ray, the director of the Titanic Collection, to see some of the larger pieces at the exhibit. You can watch in the video player below.
“You get to sort of assume the role of a passenger. You get to learn about somebody you’ve certainly never heard of before because most of their stories go untold. We know Jack and Rose but they aren’t real and these people are,” said Titanic researcher James Penca.
As you walk through the exhibit you’ll see objects that were taken from the ship’s wreckage site at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean two-and-a-half miles down. Some of the artifacts you can see are Titanic’s whistles, a megaphone, a crewman’s boot and the only lifeboat davit ever brought to surface. These were used to lower the lifeboats full of people off the ship and into the ocean.
“These artifacts are truly, truly one-of-a-kind in a lot of ways. If there are others like them they are still on the wreck today,” said Penca. You can also check out some of the most iconic parts of the Titanic like the grand staircase, the boiler room and real-life replicas of cabins the passengers slept in.
Penca said the Titanic exhibit at COSI is something that people of all ages can enjoy. He said his love for the ship even started at one of these exhibits. “People come to this exhibit, especially kids, they come to this exhibit and they leave with a newfound love of history like I did, but also potentially a love of science, of conserving artifacts, of submersibles, of deep-sea exploration,” said Penca.
The story of the Titanic is clearly one filled with tragedy. Penca said people should be aware of that before they visit. But it is also a story of heroism, perseverance and love. “It is heavy, so prepare for that, but you will leave with just, it’s a joyous thing, it’s a celebration of an incredible story and incredible people,” said Penca. “Things that you literally cannot see anywhere else except for Columbus for the next few months. They are breathtaking and it’s hard to put them into words.”
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition will take you anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours to get through depending on how deep you want to sink into the history of the ocean-liner.
Click here for more information on tickets, which is in addition to general admission.
