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Artifacts



Currently showing at Opryland, Nashville, TN, is the Titanic Artifacts
Exhibit, which I took in over the weekend. I know we have all heard lots
about the Titanic, but this is a very worthwhile, well done exhibition.
Actually seeing these artifacts for real brings home the devastation of her
sinking. Numerous paper documents are on display: many bank notes from
various countries (golly, US notes looked so much different then, and
British notes were a lot larger); letters of correspondence; some postcards;
some travel documents; and quite amazingly, cigarette papers, preserved
miraculously within a leather pouch or holder. The latter really was quite
amazing. Upon entering the exhibition, one is given a 'ticket' from the
White Star Line, and a name on this ticket reflects the name of an actual
Titanic traveller. Indicated is the class in which you travel. When you exit
the exhibit, you find whether or not that passenger survived (I travelled in
first class, and survived; my friend with me was in third class and
perished). A rather interesting twist on things. There is also a miniature
iceberg, and one can touch it and realize how cold the water was -
hypothermia was the big killer. Dishes, a leather travel bag, lamps,
porthole surrounds, lamps, tiles, and even beer bottles are on display. A
film segment shows the French lab where conservation work on other artifacts
continues. The souvenir items are, in general, overpriced (really, $29.95
for a Titanic bath towel??!!), but I found a couple affordable and
informative books which go into detail about the artifacts on display.  This
exhibit is in Nashville through the end of Aug 2001, after which I assume it
goes elsewhere. I can highly recommend it. There is also an IMAX movie as
well.   I found the exhibit interesting, in a detached sort of way. It does
not pack the emotional clout of the Holocaust exhibits or war exhibits, and
even though the iceberg is there, it seems less dramatic than some other
exhibition special effects I've seen elsewhere.  However, if the exhibition
comes your way, I think it is time well spent.

Sharon Lee Butcher
Reference Librarian
AEDC Technical Library
100 Kindel Drive, Ste C212
Arnold AFB, TN  37389-3212
931-454-4430
Fax:  931-454-5421
sharon.butcher@arnold.af.mil

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