Tuesday 27 November 2012

Belfast - Titanic Experience


Located next to the slipway that built the Titanic and Olympic opposite the Harland & Wolf Offices (now Titanic Hotel Belfast) is the Titanic Experience.

Titanic Experience Belfast
 


Titanic Experience Belfast
Model showing visitor centre and Titanic Slipway
The visitors centre records the background to the Titanic, it's construction, launch, and fitting out, before undergoing sea trials and leaving Belfast. The exhibits go on to tell of the maiden voyage, it's sinking and the finding of the wreck in 1985.





Titanic Experience Belfast
Titanic Experience Belfast
The first level outlines life in Belfast in the 1910's. Level two takes you to the top of the Arrol Gantry, boarding a ride which takes you through the shipyard as Titanic was being constructed. Level three places one on a gallery overlooking Slipway no 3 where Titanic was built and the launched.

Slipway no 3 from where Titanic was launched
Level four displays 1st / 2nd / 3rd Class cabins. A screen trip takes you through the Titanic from the Engine Room to the Bridge.

Titanic Experience Belfast
1st Class Staircase
Titanic Experience Belfast
Titanic's Bridge
 Level five chronicles the maiden, and only, voyage. It provides an opportunity to stroll along the deck of Titanic and look at her lifeboats.  



IJ on board the Titanic
IJ inspecting Titanic's lifeboats

At 11:40 pm (23:40) April 14th 1912 Titanic struck an iceberg 620 km (400  miles) south of Newfoundland and sank two hours later. Level 6 tells the story.
 11:40 pm (23:40) April 14th 1912 Titanic struck an iceberg
Titanic Experience Belfast
Titanic Sinking

Titanic Experience Belfast
Titanic Sinking
The seventh level deals with the aftermath of the sinking and the inquiry into what had gone wrong. 


Level eight exhibits the myths and realities of Titanic, the book and films which the disaster has borne.
Titanic Movie 1997 
In September 1985 the wreck of the Titanic was discovered 600 km (370 miles) south east of the Newfoundland coast lying at a depth of 3,880 metres (12,500 feet). The bow section was recognisable with much of its interior preserved. The stern section was in poor condition and surrounding the area was a debris field which contained thousands of items spilled from the ship as she sank.
 
Level nine of the Titanic Experience provides a glass floor over which one can walk over the wreck site. 

 

Titanic Wreck site
Titanic Experience Belfast Wreck Site