Everybody has heard of the Titanic. Whether you think of the movie featuring the immortal characters Rose and Jack, or the hardcore historical details like the ship’s orchestra playing until the she sank, the name Titanic is almost guaranteed to trigger some kind of idea in your mind’s eye. Here in Branson, Missouri, when people hear about the Titanic, they tend to think of the world famous Titanic Museum that anchors in the live entertainment of the Midwest. If you are a history buff, a mariner at heart, or simply looking for a neat attraction to spend some time at, the Titanic in Branson this year! It is a museum that is sure to meet and exceed your expectations.
The Titanic in Branson is hard to miss – located on Highway 76, it is literally a massive ship parked on the edge of the road. If the architecture doesn’t catch your eye, the large water feature at the front of the ship surely will! Once you pull in (don’t worry, there is plenty of parking available at this Branson attraction!) and head to the lines to get your tickets, you will notice something pretty unique – your admission ticket is a passport! Hold on to that passport – it contains information about a real passenger that was on board the Titanic that fateful night. As you wander through the museum, you might find artifacts belonging to your passenger that were recovered, or other tidbits of information. At the end of your self-guided museum tour, you will find a gallery that will reveal your passenger’s fate.
The entire museum is packed with artifacts, interactive displays, galleries that feature authentic replications, video and audio opportunities and so much more – you won’t see it all in one day, so chances are you will want to come back! Some of the most unique and memorable galleries include: the movie gallery, devoted entirely to the 1997 movie, the ‘deck’ exhibit that was created to look like the outdoor deck of the Titanic against a star studded backdrop, complete with frigid temperatures, the Grand Staircase, which is an exact replica of the sweeping grand staircase that was aboard the ship, and the interactive gallery, where visitors can experience the different degrees of tilt on the deck as the ship sank, stick their hand in a bowl of water that was the exact temperature of the ocean that night, and sit in a lifeboat.
The Titanic in Branson also features some neat community building aspects – every year, they host an ice carving competition in the parking lot. Some of the best ice sculptors from across the country to converge and carve beautiful works of art from giant blocks of ice with everything from chisels to chainsaws. The museum will also host traveling/limited time exhibits. In 2014, they have been paying tribute to the eight musicians on the Titanic with a brand new gallery. And if you want to do something memorable with your sweetie on your anniversary, you can renew your wedding vows on the Grand Staircase!
So for an attraction that will leave you awed and amazed, come visit the Titanic in Branson!
