Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Titanic Exhibit With My Boy

 

A projector screen in the background has the words "The Titanic Exhibition" written on it in large white letters. In the foreground on the right hand side of the photo is a headshot of me and Andy taking a self together. I am on the left of the shot with my hair straightened and down over my shoulders. My aviator sunglasses are resting on my head. Andy is wearing a V-neck gray t-shirt with his brown hair cut short. We are both smiling.


A Titanic exhibition was in Charlotte for a couple of months over the summer. Andy and I had hoped to get up there and see it while it was in town. Luckily, after months of conflicting schedules, we were finally able to go last week. I wasn't sure what to expect other than we were going to see some replicated items and original items from the ship and that it should take about an hour to go through.

 To be honest, my expectations weren't too high. I figured anything that only took an hour to go through wouldn't have a lot of items to peruse. In fact, I was actually thinking of skipping the exhibit altogether as we live far enough north now, that traveling into downtown is a colossal pain-in-the-ass (I'm talking about you, I77), the ticket prices were a little bit more than I really wanted to spend for an hour long exhibit, and I wasn't sure if the exhibit was going to be hokey.

I am so glad that we went! Andy and I had such a fun time We ended up taking two hours to go through the whole thing as there was so much information provided and exhibits to see. Everything from dishware, to furniture, to replica rooms, photographs and letters - there was just so much to see. Each person was given a card with information about one of the passengers on the ship that included things like name, age, origin of country, marital and class status, where he/she slept/roomed, and a brief description of his/her life prior to boarding Titanic. At the end of the exhibit you got to see if your person survived the shipwreck or whether you perished. (Andy's person ended up dying on the ship while my person survived.)

There was a simulated iceberg at one part of the tour that you could go up and touch. This was to replicate the temperature of the water at the time the Titanic sank. How anyone survived in the ocean while waiting to be rescued is a miracle because that water was so unbearably cold. 

It was so neat to see so many authentic items from the ship as well as the recreated items. The quality of workman ship of the furniture on the ship was out of this world and the intricate patterns of the first- and second-class dishware was incredible. (Because, of course, none of the classes can eat on the same dishware. Insert eyeroll here.) Third class didn't get any fancy dishware, or really fancy anything, but I did learn that the passengers themselves were happy with the ship as the accommodations for second and third class was (supposedly) superb to other steamers of the time.  

As for the history of the ship and the longer bio's of some of its passengers, Andy and I ate that information up. (Which is probably why it took us twice as long to get through the exhibit than your average visitor.) In hindsight, there were several signs that maybe this voyage was doomed from the get-go, but I suppose that is a given in any tragic situation. 

Overall, I am so glad that we went to this exhibit. I don't know where it is headed next, but if it comes to your city, I recommend you go see it. I think the best part of the whole thing though was spending time with Andy. 


P.S. I would have taken so many more pics but didn't realize that we were allowed to do so until we were almost entirely through the exhibit. 


A replica of a parlor aboard the first class section of the titanic. Along the back wall are two tannish frilly curtains covering two windows. Centered in-between these windows is a fireplace with a very ornate wood carved mantle. Above the mantle is a centered picture frame hanging on the wall and some knickknacks on display on the actual mantle itself. The carpet is maroon with a square pattern running in diagonals across the whole room. There are several chairs, all of them wooden with a light upholstered fabric covering the back and butt portion of the chair. There are also two chairs of a much darker wood with a dark blue or black fabric upholstering it. A small circular wooden end table sits in front of, but also bwtween the two darker chairs. On the far right wall is a mustard yellow couch with curved arms on wooden legs. There are both lamps and wall sconces lighting the room. The ceiling is coffered.
A first class parlor.


Third class accommodations are quite different. There are two bunk beds built into the wall side by side about 2 feet apart. They each have ornate blankets on them that are maroon and light yellow, with a white star in the center representing the company that owns the titanic called the White Star Liner. There is no wall decor, no lighting, no dressers, etc...the room is smaller than 10x10 and is bare except for the four beds (two bunks).
Third class accommodations.

The infamous white glass double doors leading ito the dining area. To the left and right of the double doors are two potted plants in two white ornate planters. There is a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling just in front of the double doors. The walls are stark white as is the ceiling, but all have ornate white molding and trim. There is the same red patterned carpeting as was seen in the first class parlor.


You’re looking down a long, perfectly symmetrical hallway lined with white paneled walls and evenly spaced doors. Warm wall sconces and crystal‑style ceiling lights give the space a soft, golden glow. The floor is covered by a deep red carpet patterned with gold diamonds, adding a sense of formality and old‑world luxury.

It’s a warm, slightly nostalgic hallway scene. You’re looking down a long corridor with red flooring that has a soft, almost velvety look. The walls are bright white, clean and simple, which makes the red floor stand out even more. Along the ceiling, white pipes run the length of the hallway, giving it a bit of an industrial or historic‑building vibe. The lighting is gentle and warm — wall‑mounted fixtures cast a cozy glow that softens the space. At the far end, there’s a black metal gate with a crisscross pattern, like an old elevator door or a security barrier. Just before it, on the left side, a gold stanchion with a black rope suggests restricted access or a guided area, almost like you’re in a museum, hotel, or some kind of preserved historic interior. The whole scene feels tidy, quiet, and slightly old‑fashioned — a mix of elegance and utility

You’re looking at an ornate wooden staircase, richly carved and beautifully detailed. The wood has that warm, honey‑gold tone you see in historic luxury interiors. At the base of the stairs stands a bronze statue of a figure holding a torch, elevated on a pedestal so it becomes the focal point of the whole space. The staircase rises and then splits into two sweeping directions, left and right, with decorative paneling along the walls that adds to the elegance. In front of it, red velvet ropes on brass stanchions block access, making it clear this is meant to be admired rather than used — almost like you’ve stepped into a preserved piece of history. The floor is tiled in white with black geometric patterns, crisp and classic, grounding the scene with a bit of contrast.
Oh, Rose and Jack...

You’re looking at a wooden door standing upright against a dark background, almost like it’s being showcased. The design is classic: an arched upper panel and a rectangular lower panel, both framed with clean, traditional molding. What makes the image striking is the surface. Half of the door is still covered in a pale, creamy paint, while the other half has been stripped down to the raw brown wood. The transition isn’t neat — it’s irregular, textured, and full of character. You can see the grain of the wood emerging where the paint has been removed, giving the whole door a sense of transformation, like it’s caught mid‑restoration or mid‑rebirth. The dark background makes the door pop.
They both could have fit on the damn door. 
















at
Labels: , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)