The Titanic Museum in Branson, MO  #ExploreBranson

*I received a complimentary ticket to the Titanic Museum in Branson, MO to facilitate my review. All thoughts are 100% honest and my own.

The Titanic museum is nothing short of amazing. That night long ago changed so many lives. I get teary just thinking about it. It certainly was a day in history will never be forgotten.

My visit was far more emotional than I was prepared to face. I sniffled and teared up in almost every room on the tour. I was blown away by the number of actual artifacts that have been recovered.

As you enter the ship, you are given a passport with your passenger information and a handheld radio. The radio will allow you to enter a code for each display along your journey. I like the privacy the individual radios afforded. As you moved from display to display, you had the option to read the placards or listen by entering in a code. I noticed there was a different code for the children. This was cool because their explanations were not as intense yet provided them with enough details to become knowledgeable on the events that tragic night. I did notice the children that were using their radio systems were far more engaged than the ones just wandering around.

 

Stopping to view the accommodations of the different classes of passengers was enlightening. Although the difference between the two was vast, the Titanic was the first ship to offer family housing and areas for less than first class passengers.

 

The model on display along with the blueprints used to build the Titanic was so impressive.

The one room that sticks in my mind was the tribute to the Titanic’s musicians. These men were such professionals. They knew what was happening and yet, they gave their all to their profession. What an amazing tribute.

The room has a large piano in the center, surrounded by photographs and biographies on each of the eight musicians aboard the ship. This room was manned by a crew member who pointed out the musician’s background.  The crew member pointed out that the youngest musician was only 21 years old.

Stepping out on the deck as the passengers did that night was actually upsetting. It was cold, dark and frightening how fast the ship filled with water.  There were three displays of the deck at fifteen minute intervals showing how fast the Titanic went down. Hubster tried to climb on each level, but it was clear that within minutes there was no way you were going to be able to hang on.

Ever wonder just how cold the water was that night? 28 degrees! Each guest has the opportunity to submerge their hand in the water on the deck. A timer counts down a three minute clock to show you how fast you would have reached hypothermia that night. In less than three minutes you hand was numb. I was surprised at how much it hurt to put my hand in the water. I was unable to keep my hand submerged.

As you are preparing to end your journey, you enter a large room with the names of all the passengers. It is on this wall that you find out the fate of person you were assigned when you arrived.  A little further you can see the name and photographs of all the surviving passengers. The hubster was assigned the name of a crewman, which hit home for him as he was in the Navy for over 20 years. His passenger did not survive. My passenger survived and lived until 1959, almost one year to the day before I was born.

My heart was so stirred by this visit. I am thankful that I was able to wander through at my own pace and without the little ones. We spent a couple of hours touring but could easily have spent the entire day.

If your travel plans bring you to Branson make sure to plan on spending several hours touring this awesome museum.  Connect with them on Facebook to receive the current announcements and promotions.

I would like to thank the Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau and all the participating merchants for this trip. It was an amazing trip!

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a sponsored post. The company who sponsored it compensated me with some form of payment or service. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”