The fascination for the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) Titanic is unrelenting. The ship’s tragic sinking on April 14–15, 1912, during its maiden and final voyage to New York City from Southampton, England, killed roughly 1,500 people. Followed by its initial discovery in 1985 with numerous follow-up visits to the shipwreck, the Ship of Dreams will forever captivate the world.
After sold-out runs in London and New York, Titanic. The Exhibition is now open at the National Harbor at 254 Mariner Passage in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Doors opened on October 18, and tickets are available until December 10, 2023, on all days of the week except Monday.
Before my visit, I stumbled upon one attendee’s review: “It was like walking through a documentary, and we felt as if we really got to know some of the passengers personally by the end.”
Perfect. Just what I wanted. A deeper dive (pardon the pun) into the stories about the people aboard the Titanic. Did it live up to the hype? Absolutely. Even the most well-read and knowledgeable expert about the British luxury passenger liner will learn something new at the exhibition.
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What is offered?
Audio Guide
There are no guided tours, but in my opinion, a move-at-your-own-pace audio guide is better. You can replay any of the short summaries as often as you like.
Through a comprehensive audio guide — available in English and Spanish — recounts from the ship’s construction to the fateful night it sank are shared. Apparently, the “unsinkable ship” cost $7.5 million to build, an estimated $225 million in today’s money.
The most meaningful part of the narrative experience was learning more about the stories behind the passengers and crew. Several passengers had bad feelings before the journey, and many weren’t intended to be on the Titanic but were transferred due to a coal strike.
Most know Captain Edward John Smith, William McMaster Murdoch, and the “Unsinkable Molly Brown.” However, the exhibition brought so many new details forward about these individuals and other passengers.
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For instance, Captain Smith was White Star Line’s most experienced and had never had a major accident. He was nicknamed “the millionaire’s captain” and put in charge of the best ships frequented by the elite.
Eighty percent of men saved on the Titanic owe their lives to Murdoch, ironically the officer in charge when the ship hit the iceberg. He focused on filling the lifeboats with as many survivors as possible.
Brown, known for encouraging women to row in the lifeboats, made medals for several of the Carpathia crew for their heroism in rescuing Titanic survivors.
Surprisingly, I never knew that the box-office record-breaking film’s love story between Jack and Rose was loosely based on a true story. Henry Morley, a 39-year-old shopkeeper from England, married with 2 kids, fell in love with his shop worker, Kate Phillips, twenty years his junior. The two traveled under false names aboard the Titanic. Morley gave Phillips a necklace as a token of his love. Forced to leave Morley behind, Phillips boarded a lifeboat with the necklace in her pocket. She gave birth to their child nine months later.
Recreation
The exhibition’s recreations were absolutely mesmerizing. Walking down the first-class hallway, for a brief moment, you felt what it was like to walk the luxurious liner’s halls.
The juxtaposition of the humble third-class cabins and first-class suites was interesting to see. It was chilling to learn that 75% of third-class passengers died compared to 38% for first class. The third-class cabin locations further away from lifeboats were mainly to blame.
Lastly, my photos of the miniature ship model can’t do it proper justice. You must see the exact replicas of sleeping quarters, dining rooms, the gymnasium, and more.
Artifacts
Travel bibles, watches, jewelry, and other prized, personal possessions paid tribute to the passengers and crew affected by such a terrible tragedy. A somber feeling to think about the fine China and silverware used for the first and last time.
The letters recounting the inner thoughts and experiences of those traveling were most moving. There are so many legends surrounding the Titanic with varied tellings. However, the letters are unfaltering in their recounts.
Merchandise
At the end of the exhibition, numerous merchandise was for sale. A surprisingly long list of items, including coffee mugs, t-shirts, sweatshirts, polos, tote bags, postcards, ornaments, koozies and aprons. I couldn’t personally imagine needing or wanting a shotglass to commemorate my trip. Faux heart of the ocean necklaces did stop me in my tracks to consider for my daughters. Alas, the price tag of $24.99 did not compute for me.
For fellow Titanic fanatics, several books were available for purchase, including “Sea of Death: The Baltic, 1945” by Claes-Göran Wetterholm, one of the world’s greatest authorities on the history of the Titanic. He has participated in four expeditions to the wreckage and dedicated more than 40 years investigating its history. Fittingly, Wetterholm is also the curator and historian for the exhibition.
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How long to allow?
According to the event website, they estimate the exhibition takes approximately 80-90 minutes to experience. The friendly and helpful staff moved everyone through rather quickly. I’d recommend skipping ahead of the first five or so stops to break from the crowd and then return to the beginning.
Even with taking numerous photos and notes, plus re-listening to some key facts on the audio guide, I finished the tour in just under 90 minutes.
If you book the last session, doors close 15 minutes after the start. Given the logistics of parking, and the heavy traffic surrounding the National Harbor, I’d recommend doing earlier tours, so you don’t risk missing your time slot.
A general rule is to avoid being late. Your ticket will still be valid but conditioned to the available space in later time slots. Meaning, you may miss your opportunity to attend.
What to bring?
While the website said to bring headphones, or you’d have to rent an audio guide, everyone was offered a complimentary set of audio headphones and a player. A staff member confirmed that this was always offered. Thankfully, you aren’t required to download yet another app you’ll never use again.
Some of the audio was slightly confusing saying to watch a movie that wasn’t there or head downstairs that didn’t exist, possibly as carryover audio from the London or New York exhibits. All in all, it was still a fantastic experience listening to recounts from survivors, while also hearing the meaning behind the curated artifacts.
What to leave at home?
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Two miscellaneous items relating to comfort:
1. Bathrooms were available conveniently at the midway point by the recreated iceberg you were allowed to touch… brr.
2. Numerous benches were throughout the exhibit for attendees to rest.
Parking
Luckily, there are plenty of paid parking garages nearby. I parked at Fleet Garage because it was the first garage I saw and easy to access. I did enjoy my short walk, the delightful smell of hot dogs, and scenic views of the National Harbor’s water, Ferris wheel, and giant television playing the Navy vs. Air Force football game.
If you’re running late or the weather is bad, I recommend parking at St. George Garage right across the street from the exhibition.
Ticket Costs
All ages are welcome at the exhibition, and children under four are free. My honest recommendation would be to avoid bringing young children, so you can truly enjoy the tour and take your time. The inability to drink or have snacks is also less ideal for little ones.
Pricing:
Adult tickets (13+): $33.50
Military, Seniors (65+), Student (with valid ID): $27.50
Child (4+): $24.50
VIP: $43.50
The VIP experience includes fast-track entry to the exhibition and a souvenir photograph. As a member of the press, I could participate in this option. While I love my photo, I don’t recommend paying the VIP fee because I don’t think it saved much time on entry. You can also choose to buy the photo separately on the day of your tour.
Full disclosure, I’d happily spend my free time at Titanic. The regularly priced adult ticket is more than fair to pay for this well-curated and highly informative experience.
To learn more or purchase tickets today, visit titanicexhibition.com.
By Lauren Burke Meyer