In the early 20th century, Belfast was a major ship-building hub. Many famous ships were built there, including the infamous Titanic. To celebrate the men and women who made these behemoths a reality, the city opened a new Titanic Experience museum in 2012 on the banks of the Lagan River. The massive complex was built in the exact spot where the Titanic and her sister ships the Olympic and the Britannic were built.
One of many images in the museum – this one shows the massive engineering works in the belly of the great ship
The Museum covers every aspect of the Titanic, from her building and fit-out to her maiden voyage, the fall-out from the disaster, her importance in pop culture and even the ocean explorations to recover artifacts from the ship. This last section was probably my favorite of the museum – there was a glass floor you could stand on and look down to see underwater images of the ship spliced together in a loop. It’s two miles below the surface, so this is the closest I’ll ever get to her final resting place.
Another image from the museum – this one of Titanic’s giant propellors
These markers show where the Titanic was berthed until it pushed off.
In the city centre, you will also find the Titanic memorial, which commemorates the lives of the Belfast men who died in the sinking.
The inside design of the museum adds to the general sense of gloom
Title quote: partial New York Times headline, April 15, 1912. Read the full story here.
This is a reproduction of a third-class cabin. Doesn’t look too bad.
There was a graphical representation of the sinking that was fascinating to watch.
The final parts of the graphical representation was in another room in the museum – accompanied by narrators acting out the real accounts from survivors.
A reproduction of a life boat.Some of the underwater images of the Titanic today.Some of the underwater images of the Titanic today.Some of the underwater images of the Titanic today.The Titanic Memorial in Belfast City Centre to the men who lost their lives
Midwest Magellan 