Centennial Anniversary of Ship Sinking Celebrated at Titanic Museum

While the majority of the population had not been born during the sinking of the Titanic, the disaster certainly is an event that haunts history today. The Titanic Museum is located in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and in Branson, Mo., and are the largest museums dedicated to the Titanic in the world.

Throughout the duration of the year, visitors to the Pigeon Forge location will be able to see a behind-the-scenes look at the set of James’ Cameron’s award-winning movie Titanic. Even though the museum is mostly factual based, the museum felt that the movie has impacted the story of the Titanic greatly and that it stands as a tribute to the actual sinking of the ship. 

With the 3-D version of the film premiering April 6, the exhibit will allow those to see how the cast and crew had to embody fictional and actual characters who were affected by the Titanic’s sinking.

Among the items on display will be a $250,000 replica of the heart-shaped blue diamond that the older Rose tossed in the water at the end of the movie and the pink coat that actress Kate Winslet wore during the sinking of the ship.

The exhibit also will feature replicas of some of the corridors, parlors and cabins that were filmed. The Grand Staircase also is duplicated and is built up to the grandeur that the film shows it to be. Visitors will feel like passengers during the Titanic’s maiden and final voyage.

The museum itself is shown as a half-scale replica of the ship with three decks. Visitors are able to see the world of 1912 as maids and officers work and other passengers go about their business aboard the ship.

Guests can experience the sensations of standing on sloping decks, placing their hands in 28-degree water and touching a real iceberg. Reenactments of these events occur with the actors aboard the ship. It simulates what people aboard the Titanic felt as the ship sank into the icy waters that April night.

April 14 will be an extremely special day at both museums. On the actual day the Titanic sank 100 years ago, “A Night to Remember: An Original Musical Tribute to Titanic” will use choirs, orchestras, and musical theater performances to demonstrate the tragedy that plagued the Titanic.

Only the Titanic Museum Attractions is hosting a formal gala to honor the loss of the ship. The musical pieces will be especially sentimental since the orchestra aboard the ship went down into the water playing their instruments.

Music lovers of all generations will love the range of classical music to today’s pop hits and ballads. Those with a flare for the theatrics can see a reenactment of the crew sending up the distress flares the night the ship sunk. The guests will be able to feel the sorrow and tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic through the music that will be played.

Descendents of those aboard the Titanic will be at the event to orate the tales that their ancestors went through that fateful night. Through them, visitors will have a personal look into the lives of the families that endured the downfall of the ship. The audience then has the chance to become apart of the show by going to the bow of the ship in the museum to light a memorial flame for the 2,208 passengers.

Passengers may purchase tickets to either event online at www.titanicattraction.com or by phone at (800) 381-7670.