Jewels of the Titanic Exhibit Dazzles at Orlando’s Titanic the Experience Through March 12, 2013

30 years ago, my high school English (and eventually Journalism) teacher, Charles Haas, required his classes to read “A Night to Remember” by Walter Lord. It is one of the more memorable books that I read during my school years, and Charles Haas went on to write his own books on the Titanic. He even visited the wreck of the vessel twice over the years.

When Jeff and I were invited to view the exhibit “Jewels of the Titanic”, I jumped at the opportunity. 

Titanic the Experience

 

Titanic the Experience

The jewels were recovered in 1987, preserved in a Gladstone bag that helped save the jewelry, along with bank notes and other valuable items. Mark Lach, Creative Director of Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, was on hand to discuss the exhibit with us. Lach has not only designed some of the world’s most famous exhibits, but he also visited the wreck site in 2000 and 2004. He told us about how the 2 1/2 journey to the bottom of the ocean was primarily made in the dark.

Mark Lach, Creative Director, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition

Most of the exquisite items on display are of unknown origin. There is a pocket watch that was owned by second-class passenger Thomas William Solomon. He did not survive the sinking of the Titanic, but his wife and daughter did. The pocket watch was given to his daughter Edith Brown Haismith in 1993, and she willed it to the collection.

Jewels of the Titanic

Necklace

Perhaps one of the most striking pieces of jewelry is a sapphire and diamond ring, which is very similar in style to the ring that Prince Charles gave Lady Diana (and eventually was given to Kate Middleton by Prince William).

Sapphire and Diamond Ring

A necklace with charms that include a good-luck pig was also recovered. This necklace also includes a star with a rose cut diamond with the words “This Be Your Lucky Star”, and a star with a 3-leaf clover.

Lucky Pig

Each piece of jewelry has a story behind it – and many of these stories will never be known. We enjoyed gazing on these artifacts from the Titanic, which will be at Titanic the Experience through March 3rd in a special exhibit.

 

Jewels of the Titanic

This was our first visit to Titanic the Experience, and we were thoroughly impressed with the attraction. Titanic the Experience is not a museum per se’ – while there are artifacts mixed with replica items, what really brings the story to life are the actors who portray passengers aboard the ship. We had two actors lead us through the exhibit, including one who played Molly Brown. They were both fantastic in their roles, and the experience made me feel more of what it was like to be on the ship than I have from any museum exhibit. When we walked to the “deck” of the ship, they separated the men and women. Most of the men onboard died, and there clearly wasn’t much time to say goodbye. And we spent 10 seconds with our hands on a slab of ice to understand how cold the air was that night. The water was even colder.

Molly Brown

Deck of the Titanic

Jeff Touches Ice

We each received a card with the name and some information about a passenger on the Titanic. We checked the list to see if we survived the sinking or not. I did. Jeff didn’t.

Front of Card

Back of Card

Woven throughout are some beautiful sets, including a grand staircase and a dining room  – as well as a 10 feet long portion of the hull.

Jewels of the Titanic will be on display through March 12th, 2013, and then will travel to Las Vegas. Titanic the Exhibition is open daily and located on 7324 International Drive, Orlando. Visit their website for more information!