Photos courtesy of The Franklin Institute
The highly-anticipated Titanic exhibition debuts at The Franklin Institute on Saturday, November 10, 2012. One hundred years after the sinking of Titanic, the story of the legendary ship continues to fascinate. Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, which showcases 300 artifacts retrieved from the wreck site of Titanic and centers around the story of the ship, which remains one of the world’s greatest maritime tragedies, will be on view in the Mandell Center of The Franklin Institute through April 7, 2013.
The exhibition has been created with a focus on Titanic’s compelling human stories told through authentic artifacts and exacting re-creation of the ship’s interior. Several passengers highlighted within the exhibit have direct ties to the Philadelphia area. Delicate bottles of perfume, china bearing the logo of the White Star Line, and several other objects collected from the wreck site offer poignant connections to those lives that were abruptly ended or forever changed. Moving through the exhibition galleries, guests will experience this significant historical event, disaster and passenger stories in chronological order: from the construction yards, to her maiden voyage, the fated sinking, to modern day recovery efforts. Each visitor will become a passenger and feel the anticipation of that April day as they step into authentically re-created first and third class cabins, and stop for a breathtaking glance at the social hub of Titanic—the Grand Staircase.

Delicate bottles of perfume, china bearing the logo of the White Star Line, and several other objects collected from the wreck site offer poignant connections to those lives that were abruptly ended or forever changed.
Visitors will then feel the temperature drop, learn details of the sinking, touch an iceberg and understand the theories behind this tragic tale. One of the many galleries will be dedicated to local Philadelphia-area connections, where visitors can learn about how the sinking of the great ship strongly resonated in Philadelphia. Finally, in the “Memorial Gallery” guests will take their boarding pass to the memorial wall and discover the fate their passenger and traveling companions.
Remnants from the ship, along with the possessions of passengers aboard, will be woven into the story of the ongoing research and recovery expeditions in a dramatic setting with remarkable room re-creations and high-definition multimedia. Visitors will experience an inside look at the recent expeditions led by the team from RMS. Titanic, Inc., which was granted exclusive rights to recover the artifacts from the wreck of the RMS Titanic. To date, RMS Titanic, Inc. has recovered more than 5,500 objects from the wreck site, ranging from delicate porcelain dishes to a 17-ton section of the hull.
The roughly 300 artifacts in the exhibition – including jewelry, clothing, currency, and the iconic ship’s whistle – provide a window into this moment in time that has captivated the world for decades.
Ticket Information
Titanic: The Artifact Expedition ticket pricing at The Franklin Institute:
Daytime Tickets
Adults $29.00
Children (3-11) $22.00
Daytime admission includes general admission to The Franklin Institute and one Fels Planetarium show.
Evening Tickets
Thursday – Saturday only (after 5:00 PM)
Adults: $19.50
Children: $14.50 (ages 3-11)
Admission to Titanic only. Other Museum areas close at 5 p.m.
An optional audio tour is available for an additional $5.00/person.
The exhibition will be open 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays through Wednesdays (last entry at 3:30 p.m.); and 9:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays (last entry at 7:30 p.m.). Tickets are timed and dated, and advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended. For information on purchasing tickets, please call 215.448.1200 or visit www.fi.edu. Information on discounted tickets for groups of 15 or more is also available by calling 215.448.1200.
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