Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit at Sloan Museum in Flint Through 9/3

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Sloan Museum is a sponsor of Mrs. Weber’s Neighborhood. All opinions expressed are my own. 

The story of the Titanic is perhaps one of the most unbelievable pieces of modern history. The amazing ship took two years to build, employing more than 10,000 men, yet seemed to be doomed even before its demise in 1912.

Today, the ship’s living history is available for view here in Michigan with Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit at Sloan Museum in Flint. This special exhibit will be visiting Sloan through September 3, 2017, and is definitely a must-see for any history lover.

How can you not be fascinated with this modern marvel?

{I brought my toddler by default…I would suggest ages 6 and up for this!}

For the exhibit, your journey begins with a faux boarding pass highlighting one of the passenger’s stories. At the end of the exhibit, you can check to see if your person survives or perishes. {Read on to see if my person survived or not} 😉

Such ominous words, right? Mr. Smith went down with the ship, ironically.

As you make your way through the exhibit, there is plenty to look at, including old photos showing the ship being built, the ship’s blueprints, and more. Visitors can also view re-created rooms, and press their palm against an iceberg while learning of countless stories of heroism and humanity that existed aboard the ship.

Here are just a smidgen of the facts I found interesting:

• There were only two bathtubs for the more than 700 third-class passengers
• Tickets were $40 for third-class {$900 today} and $2,500 for first-class {$57,200 today}
• Most of the passengers didn’t believe the ship was sinking, so only 19 people boarded the first lifeboat, which could have held 65 people
• Cargo onboard included four cases of opium, 20,000 bottles of beer, 63 cases of wine, 75,000 pounds of meat and 40 tons of potatoes
• All the artifacts within the exhibit are displayed in special cases where temperature, humidity and light levels can be controlled to protect from deterioration.

There are so many other interesting tidbits throughout the exhibit, too.

A re-created First Class room

Over the past 25 years, more than 40 million people have seen this exhibit in major museums worldwide – from Chicago to Los Angeles and Paris to London.

SURVIVE OR PERISH?

Wonder if my passenger survived? The passenger’s boarding pass I was holding was a wife and mother traveling with her husband and two girls, ages 1 and 3. They were an inter-racially married couple facing discrimination in France, so were fleeing to Haiti to be with the husband’s family. The husband died, however, the females survived.

I couldn’t help but put myself in that mother’s shoes. Could you even imagine being aboard a sinking ship with toddlers in tow?! What a miracle they survived the terror and freezing temperatures.

TICKETS

Tickets to see Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition are: $14 adults, $12 seniors (60+), $11 youth age 2-11, $10 for ASTC reciprocal museums, $5 for members, free for children 1 and under.

Additionally, Veterans/Military Families/Teachers are $7 adults, $6 senior (60+), $6 youth (age 2-11).

This fee includes Titanic, the rest of Sloan Museum, and when open, Buick Automotive Gallery.

Tickets to this exhibit are timed, so advance purchase is recommended. To purchase tickets, visit HERE, select the date and then the time for the time you’d like to enter the exhibit.

Visit HERE for special events and pricing for those as well.

TIPS FOR VISITING

• This exhibit is very text-heavy. For this reason, I would suggest ages 6 and up. {I did bring my toddler, but no — it isn’t toddler-friendly!}
• Following the exhibit, make sure to check out the rest of the museum — there is a ton of cool Flint and Michigan artifacts. The Wisner’s Whizbang Emporium is amazing for kids and there is even a nursing room available in that area. Learn more at this post.
• The Longway Planetarium is within walking distance, and would be a great excuse to see a show.
• If you visit on a Saturday, you can also walk over to the Flint Institute of Arts and visit for FREE.
• Food isn’t available at Sloan {though there is a cafeteria if you bring a lunch}, but if you’re looking for a bite to eat nearby, Flint Crepe Company is fantastic, or stop into the Flint Farmers Market {indoors and open year-round} and pick from one of the stands.

Sloan Museum is located at 1221 E. Kearsley Street, Flint, MI 48503.

What facts do you love about the Titanic?