By Darlene Donloe
The tragedy that befell the Titanic on April 15, 1912, is a dark, interesting, but mostly sad tale.
On that fateful day, which was four days into the ship’s maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City, more than 1,500 passengers lost their lives after the Titanic collided with an iceberg on April 14, 1912, in the icy waters of the North Atlantic.
The haunting story of the Titanic is told in ‘Titanic: The Exhibition’ currently taking place at the Beverly Event Venue in Los Angeles.
Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the Titanic can be found in this one-hour, self-guided, interactive experience that allows attendees to step inside recreations of the ship’s interior.
It’s been more than a century since the most famous maritime disaster occurred, and yet the Titanic remains the most well-known ship in American history.
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| First-class sitting room |
Tom Zaller (TZ), president and CEO of Imagine Exhibitions took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions about the exhibition.
DD: Why should people experience Titanic: The Exhibition?
TZ: Whether you are a history buff or a big fan of the blockbuster film, or even if you don’t know much about the Titanic, there really is something for everyone at Titanic: The Exhibition. From the artifacts, personal stories, recreations of the ship, photo-ops, and virtual reality experience, the exhibit is profoundly educational, immersive, and emotionally impactful.
More importantly, people should visit the exhibit in LA before it closes! We are open for a very limited time before we take the exhibit to Chicago in February, so now is the perfect time to check it out.
DD: It’s been 111 years since the ship sank. Why do you think there is still such a fascination with the Titanic?
TZ: I love this story. Titanic has been a part of my life since the late 90s when I had the incredible opportunity to dive to the wreck site. I’m always amazed by how people continue to be fascinated by the story; it's every man’s story - the story of hopes and dreams. There is, of course, a huge historical significance and a unique mystique of the ‘unsinkable ship,’ but I believe it is the human stories of the passengers and crew that evoke such empathy and fascination. The Titanic represents a microcosm of society, carrying people from various backgrounds, and their individual narratives resonate deeply with people.
DD: Describe the exhibit.
TZ: Titanic: The Exhibition – produced by Imagine Exhibitions and Fever – is the largest and most immersive touring Titanic exhibition, and it is a narrative journey that brings to light the fates of the passengers and crew aboard the sinking ship. It is also a uniquely interactive exhibition that tells the chronological and dramatic tale of the design, creation, launch, maiden voyage, and tragedy of the largest and most luxurious ship in the world at that time.
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| A LifeVest |
DD: In what way is the exhibit interactive?
TZ: The exhibit has many interactive elements to it - whether through the boarding pass that corresponds with a real-life passenger allowing each guest to follow an individual passenger story as they explore the first-, second-, and third-class galleries with their corresponding artifacts, or through the immersive chronologic galleries and the narrative that unfolds.
DD: What is the most shocking thing attendees will see in the exhibit?
TZ: I think the human stories of real-life people are always what touches people in the most shocking and poignant elements whether those stories are told through the use of artifact displays or recreations depicting the conditions aboard the ship during the sinking. 2 great examples, For instance, feeling the freezing temperature of the iceberg or seeing your name on the memorial wall has always touched people the most. Overall, the exhibit's ability to humanize the tragedy by showcasing individual stories, artifacts, and the sheer scale of the disaster often leaves a profound impact on attendees.
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| A porthole |
DD: What do you think people will find out – that they didn’t already know?
TZ: An interesting part of the exhibit delves into the ship's design and construction, showcasing details about the materials used, the engineering innovations, and the ambitious scale of the Titanic itself. I think people would be interested to learn about the riveting techniques used and the sheer size and opulence of the ship's interior.
Furthermore, the exhibit sheds light on the passengers' experiences beyond the well-known stories, revealing details about lesser-known individuals aboard, their backgrounds, and the diverse range of people who were traveling on the Titanic, highlighting personal anecdotes and lesser-known tales of survival or loss.
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| Grand Staircase |
DD: Are attendees able to walk the grand staircase – up to the clock?
TZ: Due to safety concerns, attendees are not permitted to walk up the Grand Staircase, although they can get up close and personal with the iconic recreation for a great photo op!
DD: What is a definite “must-see” in the exhibition?
TZ: I personally love the “wow” factor when guests enter the immersive Grand Staircase, or later in our Discovery Gallery, dedicated to the discovery and research of the Titanic’s wreckage site. The Discovery Gallery features a raised glass floor simulating the impression of walking along the ocean floor with broken china in the sand that allows visitors to experience some of what discovery teams saw during dives to the Titanic site. At the end of the exhibition, visitors have the option to explore the wreck even further in a virtual reality experience that features 360° imagery of the Titanic’s final resting place.
DD: Attendees hold the pass of an actual passenger on the Titanic. How were the actual real people chosen?
TZ: We selected 100 passengers for whom we have the most complete story. When visitors enter we provide male passes for men and female passes for women and if a group or family we try to mix up the classes so that groups who experience the show together may be grouped in 1st class and the other in 3rd to provoke dialog about class separation and the reality of what that meant in 1912 and especially on the Titanic.
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| First-class cabins hallway |
DD: Are/were there any Black passengers on the Titanic? If so, who were they?
TZ: There was one Black Family on the Titanic. Notable was Joseph Laroche, a Haitian-born engineer, and his family. Laroche, his wife Juliette, and their two daughters were passengers on the Titanic. He was the only known Black passenger in the first class and the only passenger of African descent known to have been aboard the ship. Tragically, Joseph Laroche did not survive the sinking, but his wife and daughters were able to board a lifeboat and survived.
DD: Is the exhibit led by a docent? If not, is there audio along the tour?
TZ: Titanic: The Exhibition is a self-guided exhibit.
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| Costumes from James Cameron's 1997 movie, 'Titanic' |
DD: What kinds of relics are on display?
TZ: The exhibit features hundreds of artifacts that encompass items that survived the sinking of the Titanic and her sister ships, as well as props and costumes from the beloved James Cameron 1997 blockbuster film Titanic. Set inside fully immersive recreations of the ship's interior, the artifacts help navigate guests through Titanic's timeline from sinking to underwater discovery.
DD: Does the iceberg make an appearance? If so, in what way?
TZ: It does! I won’t give too much away, but the iceberg definitely makes an appearance at the exhibit, and there is an interactive element to it as well.
DD: Would you describe this exhibition as more informational or more emotional? Explain.
TZ: The exhibition aims to provide a mix of both information and emotional depth. It offers a comprehensive look at the Titanic's history, including details about its construction, the passengers, the luxurious elements of the ship, and the events leading up to the tragic sinking.
Alongside factual information, the exhibit highlights personal stories of passengers and crew, artifacts both from the Titanic and her sister ships, and recreations of parts of the ship. Ultimately, the exhibit aims to provide a well-rounded experience that educates visitors about the Titanic's history while also touching on an emotional connection to the human side of the story.
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The actual wreckage of the Titanic was found after 1 a.m. on Sept. 1, 1985, under more than 12,400 feet of water. One of the Titanic’s boilers was identified, confirming the wreck had been found. The ship was found by American oceanographer and marine geologist, Robert Ballard, 73 years after it sank. As suspected, the ship had split in half.
Titanic: The Exhibition – Los Angeles, 4327 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles; $23 -$68.90; through Dec. 31, 2023.
**All photos by Darlene Donloe
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