PHILADELPHIA, April 15, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- On a calm April night in 1912, Titanic, the ship of dreams, struck an iceberg and slowly sank in the freezing water of the North Atlantic. On board were 2,228 passengers -- titans of commerce, artists, leaders of countries, immigrant dreamers, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. More than 1,500 died. No one had believed it could happen.
In "Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition," on view at The Franklin Institute July 10 through January 2, 2005, hundreds of artifacts recovered from the wreck site tell Titanic's tragic tale. A suitcase, a felt bowler hat, the ship's whistles, glassware etched with the logo of the elite White Star Line -- these and many other objects offer haunting, emotional connections to lives abruptly ended or forever altered.
The 15,000 square foot exhibit will extend throughout two floors of The Franklin Institute and will take you on a chronological journey through the life of the Titanic, from the building of the legend to life on board. Walk through authentically recreated first and third class rooms, with furnishings by original manufacturers. Press your palms on an "iceberg" to sense what it was like for passengers thrown into the frigid water that night.
Upon entry, pick up a boarding pass bearing a Titanic passenger's name. In the Memorial Room, visitors will learn about the aftermath of the disaster, the relief funds, and the efforts to find the over 1,500 lost loved ones. Visitors will also learn about Titanic passengers from Philadelphia, including George and Eleanor Widener, whose son, Harry, also perished and for whom the Harry Elkins Widener Library at Harvard University is dedicated. Read the memorial wall and find out, at last: Did the person whose ticket you hold survive?
In the past 10 years, more than 14 million people have seen this powerful exhibit in major science museums worldwide, from Seattle, Chicago and Los Angeles to Paris and London.
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition is proudly presented by The Philadelphia Inquirer and sponsored by PECO Energy.
Currently undergoing a major renaissance, The "All New" Franklin Institute initiated a Capital Campaign in 1998 and successfully raised $62 million to launch eight new, interactive, theme-based, state-of-the-art exhibits through 2006, as well as to renovate its museum theaters, retail store, and public areas.
New and renovated exhibits completed include The Franklin Air Show, Sports Challenge, Space Command, The Train Factory and the Fels Planetarium. In October 2004, a new Bioscience exhibit, The Heart of the Matter, featuring the famous, walk-through Heart, will open.
For more information about The Franklin Institute, call 215-448-1200 or visit www.fi.edu.