Chilling exhibition returns to area

Dallas—Titanic: The Exhibition returned to Dallas after 25 years. Originally debuting at Fair Park in 2000, the exhibit chronologically explores the story of the Titanic, detailing how she was built through her eventual sinking and the aftermath of the disaster. 

"You wonder why people are so fascinated with the Titanic after all of these years," Leah Frazier, one of the attendees, said. "Once you leave this exhibit and you're able to connect with the lives and the stories. It makes sense why this would be one of those tragedies and stories that will live on. People will always be inspired but also saddened by what happened. The exhibit does that for you, and it makes you understand why it's a universal phenomenon."

Upon entering the exhibit, attendees receive a "boarding pass," which includes information about one of the passengers on the Titanic. As guests go through the exhibit, they learn whether their passengers survived the sinking. 

"The real lesson is how fragile life can be. Even though it's a story from over 100 years ago, it still speaks to us today," Mark Lach, creative director of Titanic: The Exhibition, said. "When you stand in the front with the boarding pass and find out the fate of your passenger, I think you stand there with your family. You're kind of like, 'Boy, life is uncertain.' Cherish those moments you have with each other."

The exhibition includes rooms that detail the ship's making, boarding, her days of travel, what life on the ship was like, warnings that were ignored, the crash, sinking of the ship, and aftermath. 

One of the latest additions to the exhibit includes a plaque honoring those who lost their lives in the Titan submersible implosion in June 2023.

The exhibit also includes a VR headset experience.

"It goes over things like what the boat may have looked like before it wrecked,” Soren Pettse, one of the workers, said. “[VR] breathes life into what it would have been like."

One part of the exhibit stood out.

"[My favorite thing was] probably the iceberg; that's so cool that we have it in there," Hailey Bowers, one of the exhibition workers, said. 'It is a little freezing in here, but it's nice to touch it, and I feel it brings you a little bit closer to the actual experience."

"My second [favorite] part would have to be the part of the exhibition where there's an iceberg," Frazier said. "It's two degrees higher than what the water was when the people were submerged. But to be able to touch that and have that connection is very emotional."

As part of the exhibit, an iceberg is kept at 32°F. Due to the salt content of the Atlantic Ocean, the water the Titanic sank in was 30°F. 

"You approach [the iceberg], and you go, 'Wait a minute, I feel the cold coming off of that,'" Lach said. "We invite people to put their hand on the iceberg and hold it there. We have the luxury of pulling it away and warming our hands, but the water was colder than that ice. Saltwater freezes at a lower temperature. You get a sense that some of the folks lost that night didn't drown; they died of hypothermia. Why weren't there enough lifeboats? Lifeboats went out half empty because people felt safer aboard the Titanic.

"It's fun because this exhibit feels exciting and energized, but I think [is a] lesson. We have to value every moment; 'make it count,' as Jack would say. It speaks to everyone about how fragile life can be and it is to value every day." 

The Titanic Exhibit is an interactive experience is available at 14902 Preston Rd #386 in Dallas until May 11.