History recovered at the Franklin Institute, ‘Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition’

November 10, 2012
  • The Franklin Institute's new exhibit features more than 300 artifacts recovered from the wreck. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

    The Franklin Institute's new exhibit features more than 300 artifacts recovered from the wreck. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

  • <Mark Lach, Creative Director of Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition opening this weekend at the Franklin Institute, describes his 2.5 mile dive to the wreck site. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

  • Lowell Lytle, an actor portraying Titanic Captain Edward John Smith welcomes visitors to the Franklin Institute's new exhibit. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

    Lowell Lytle, an actor portraying Titanic Captain Edward John Smith welcomes visitors to the Franklin Institute's new exhibit. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

  • Each visitor to the Franklin Institute's new Titanic exhibit receives a boarding pass containing information about a real passenger. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

    Each visitor to the Franklin Institute's new Titanic exhibit receives a boarding pass containing information about a real passenger. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

  • Ordinary objects like this leather suitcase and trolley tickets became extraordinary after surviving the sinking of the Titanic and years beneath the sea. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

    Ordinary objects like this leather suitcase and trolley tickets became extraordinary after surviving the sinking of the Titanic and years beneath the sea. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

  • Franklin Institute volunteer Karen Knodel portrays the Countess of Roth sitting in the recreation of a first class cabin. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

    Franklin Institute volunteer Karen Knodel portrays the Countess of Roth sitting in the recreation of a first class cabin. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

  • Franklin Institute volunteer Jaclyn Scarborough, portraying silent film actress Dorothy Gibson, descends a replica of the Titanic's grand staircase. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

    Franklin Institute volunteer Jaclyn Scarborough, portraying silent film actress Dorothy Gibson, descends a replica of the Titanic's grand staircase. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

  • Third class dishes recovered from the wreck of the Titanic were marked with the logo of the White Star Line to discourage theft. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

    Third class dishes recovered from the wreck of the Titanic were marked with the logo of the White Star Line to discourage theft. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

  • An electric light bulb recovered from the wreck of the Titanic is among 300 artifacts on display at the Franklin Institute's new exhibit. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

    An electric light bulb recovered from the wreck of the Titanic is among 300 artifacts on display at the Franklin Institute's new exhibit. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

  • After receiving their boarding passes, passing the grand staircase and walking down a hall of first class cabins, visitors to the Franklin Institute's new Titanic exhibit descend a dark ramp to the boiler room. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

    After receiving their boarding passes, passing the grand staircase and walking down a hall of first class cabins, visitors to the Franklin Institute's new Titanic exhibit descend a dark ramp to the boiler room. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

  • Victor Ung and his 5th grade classmates from Meredith Elementary School touch a representation of the iceberg that sank the Titanic. The wall is refrigerated to conjure the frigid conditions at the time of the sinking. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

    Victor Ung and his 5th grade classmates from Meredith Elementary School touch a representation of the iceberg that sank the Titanic. The wall is refrigerated to conjure the frigid conditions at the time of the sinking. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

  • A 5th grader from Meredith Elementary School sits in a lifeboat of light at the Franklin Institute's Titanic exhibit. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

    A 5th grader from Meredith Elementary School sits in a lifeboat of light at the Franklin Institute's Titanic exhibit. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

  • Some of the objects in the Titanic exhibition at the Franklin Institute, like this deck bench, are displayed as they were found on the ocean floor. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

    Some of the objects in the Titanic exhibition at the Franklin Institute, like this deck bench, are displayed as they were found on the ocean floor. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

  • A silver mesh hadbag is one of many delicate items that survived a journey to the ocean floor with the Titanic. More than 300 objects recovered from the wreck are on display at the Franklin Institute. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

    A silver mesh hadbag is one of many delicate items that survived a journey to the ocean floor with the Titanic. More than 300 objects recovered from the wreck are on display at the Franklin Institute. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

  • A pair of glasses recovered from the wreck of the titanic is on display at the Franklin Institute. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

    A pair of glasses recovered from the wreck of the titanic is on display at the Franklin Institute. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

  • A visitor's boarding pass matches the list of casualties that concludes the Titanic exhibit. A disproportionate number of first class passengers survived the sinking, but Mrs. Isidor Straus and her husband did not. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

    A visitor's boarding pass matches the list of casualties that concludes the Titanic exhibit. A disproportionate number of first class passengers survived the sinking, but Mrs. Isidor Straus and her husband did not. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

  • Joanne Concepcion, chaperoning a group of 5th graders from Meredith Elementary School, tries to find the name on her boarding pass in the list of passengers and crew that concludes the exhibit. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

    Joanne Concepcion, chaperoning a group of 5th graders from Meredith Elementary School, tries to find the name on her boarding pass in the list of passengers and crew that concludes the exhibit. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Her maiden voyage has been depicted on Broadway, on the big screen and most recently re-imagined in 3D. And now, visitors to the Franklin Institute can behold an exhibition almost three decades in the making.

Titanic’s wreck site was discovered in 1985. Since then teams of archaeologists, oceanographers and scientists have conducted countless dives during research and recovery operations.

The showcase spotlights more than 300 legendary artifacts conserved from the Titanic’s debris field. The 15,000 square foot exhibition takes visitors on a chronological journey and is designed to focus on the Titanic’s compelling human stories by offering visitors a poignant look at the vessel and its passengers.

“Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition,” is on display through April 7 at the Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th Street, Philadelphia. Tickets: $14.50-$29.

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