Photo Gallery Museum Dedicated To Construction of Titanic
Titanic Belfast: The world's biggest exhibition recalling the doomed luxury liner is opening on March 31.
Construction of the iconic new center took three years -- as long as it took to build the Titanic itself. The structure stands on the site of the shipyard where the Titanic was hammered into shape.
From a seagull's perspective, it resembles the Titanic shipping company White Star Line's logo. Viewed from the water, the four spikes soar as high as the Titanic's bow.
An aluminum skin, composed of 3,000 panels, reflects the light from the water at the foot of the building.
On April 2, 1912 the Titanic embarked on its first and only trip. Only 12 days later the famous ship slammed into an iceberg. This year a string of events will mark the 100th anniversary of the tragedy.
Within a space of 11,000 square meters, the exhibition organizers tell the story of the legendary ship and the shipyard where it was built. One narrow, dark section of the building is entitled, "The Sinking".
A "3D cave" takes visitors on a virtual walk through the engine room, corridors and bridge.
"This exhibition is not celebrating the sinking of the Titanic," says Tim Husbands, managing director of Titanic Belfast, "but rather Belfast's engineers' and workers' achievements a hundred years ago."
The multimedia presentation includes speaking holograms. Here, in a reconstructed first class cabine, a virtual passenger speaks to the steward.
The third class accomodation is more spartan. The exhibition creators have paid attention to detail, even a teddy bear rests on the top bunk.
The Ulster Folk & Transport Museum also has an exhibition to mark the century anniversary of the Titanic tragedy. Last year it opened its Titanica show.
John Salvage, a guide, wears workers' clothes typical of the early 20th century. He shows how the rivets were driven into the ships' sides.
The anniversary has sparked a Titanic-inspired marketing boom. "Titanic" afternoon teas are on offer in luxury hotels, victims' descendants offer Titanic tours. Titanic potato chips are also being sold.
Titanic-inspired bells are on sale in Belfast, as well as T-shirts bearing the slogan: "Built by Irishmen, Sunk by an Englishman" -- Captain Edward Smith was English
A mural depicting the Titanic adorns a building in Belfast. Northern Ireland hopes the eye-catching center will kick-start tourism in the city, which has been experiencing a rennaissance since the 1998 peace agreement that largely stopped the violence in the city.
